Seconds overcome bottom side for title
Bath’s second side have been crowned West of England Cricket League Covid Group A champions after a win on the final day of the season over bottom side Brislington meant they beat their first team and local rivals Lansdown to the title.
The win never really looked in any doubt as Sam Young (130) and Charlie Brain (87) almost put on 200 for the second wicket as Bath ended their final innings of the shortened season on 297-5, the highest score of any team in the group this campaign.
With Brislington without a win this season, Bath’s bowlers comfortably restricted their visitors’ scoring before bowling them out with two overs to spare to claim a 162-run victory the title. James and William Arney both grabbed three wickets apiece, for 19 and 16 runs respectively, while Harry Roberts claimed 2-34 and David Ford 1-16.
Bath’s first team made it a onetwo for the club after beating Lansdown into second by head to head record. Bath claimed a seven wicket victory after tightly bowling hosts Knowle to 161-6 as Ben Copp (2-26), Harry Hankins (2-30) and Matt Tomes-smith claimed wickets.
The chase took just 23.4 overs to complete as wicket-keeper opener Ben Wells managed a half-century alongside unbeaten knocks of 34 from captain Paul Muchall and 61 from Hankins to see Bath through.
Lansdown may well have just played a T20 match as they ended their campaign with an eight wicket victory which took just 24 overs to complete. Tim Wyatt (6-17) and Josh Smith (4-17) gave Norton a day they’d soon want to forget after Lansdown inserted their visitors and dismantled them for just 35 in 15 overs. Despite Jordan Smith going for a golden duck, the reply lasted just 8.2 overs as Daniel Jarman made an unbeaten 23.
Keynsham ended the campaign second bottom after narrowly losing by six runs against Frome. Sam Lowe (4-21), Sam Wheller (3-14) and Harry Mattingley (1-15) helped keep Frome to 139-9 in their innings before really struggled in reply.
The top four batsmen went for a combined 14 before Russ Wakefield (27), Chris Gwyther (28) and Lowe (22) steaded the ship. Once Gwyther departed with Keynsham tantalisingly close on 132-8, only one more run could be added before the final two wickets were taken for Frome to claim the win.
Corsham ended their Group E campaign with a seven wicket victory at home to Chippenham to finish third. After being asked to field, Matt Henley (3-27) and Tom Foley (3-15) were supported by Jonathan Parker (1-22), Tom Young (1-46) and Josh Stanley (1-20) as Corsham bowled out Chippenham for 139 at the end of their innings.
Openers Ben Oakley (18) and Luke Curtis (12) made 32 for the first wicket before wicket-keeper Charley Reed (59*) and Tom Young (38*) batted through to reach the target in the 34th over with seven wickets in hand.
Marshfield finished level on points with Chippenham but were fifth on head to head record after beating Biddestone by four wickets. Marshfield put their visitors into bat and watched Biddestone captain Tyrone Isitt make 120 before being bowled out for 215. The wickets were shared between Jeremy Bond (3-36), Cameron Walker (3-34), Mat Cox (2-8) and Calum Burnstone (1-19).
Despite a tough target, Marshfield began steadily before captain James Williams (32) and Bond (68) began to close the gap to Biddestone. Walker then made an unbeaten 52 to see Marshfield over the line with just two balls and four wickets in hand.
In Group I, the title-decider fell to Trowbridge after Corsham 2nd suffered a nine wicket defeat. The visitors were put into bat and ended up being skittled out for 98 as only Stuart Warner (30*) passed 15 after 28.4 overs. Trowbridge then just needed 13 overs to reach the target and claim the title. Michael Myatt (1-25) claimed the only wicket for Corsham.
■ Wiltshire
LEAGUE