Bristol & District Mitch’s magnificent 191 leads Cleeve to victory
MITCH Want plundered a careerbest 191 off only 108 balls to put Cleeve on course for a 76-run triumph away to Keynsham 2nds in Division One of the Martin Berrill Bristol & District League.
The opener cracked 24 fours and five sixes to dominate an imposing 40-over total of 308-4 after losing the toss. In reply, Keynsham came up short at 232-7.
One of the bowling performances of the day came at Lodway where captain Ben Stitfall captured 6-25 from seven overs to wrap up a 129-run triumph over Knowle 2nds. Stitfall (47) and Tobias Rice (44) had earlier been the main contributors to Lodway’s 219-7 after losing the toss. overs Stitfall rounded off a memorable day with a testing spell which ensured a comfortable win.
Matt Williams followed up a burst of 4-31 from seven with an unbeaten 40 for Whitchurch, who saw off Winterbourne 2nds by eight wickets, with skipper Ben Jefferies top-scoring on 54.
Bradley Stoke, relegated back to the Senior Division after one summer in WEPL, made the perfect start to the new campaign with a nine-wicket humbling of Timsbury.
The village side had no answer to Ben Rivers (5-13 from seven overs) and Dan Qureshi (3-7 from two) as they were rushed out for only 48 ahead of Bradley Stoke wrapping up maximum points.
OB Westbury, who also dropped down from WEPL, romped in by 134 runs away to Clevedon 2nds, with Connor Crane top-scoring on 108 off 109 (12 fours) against his old club, while there was also 82 from opener Ben Keysell.
George Willis (4-33) and Stuart MacArthur (4-34) then carved their way through the Clevedon lineup.
Hanham were rumbled for only 51 away to Coalpit Heath, who completed an 83-run triumph despite the considerable efforts of Jack Alway (4-13 from nine overs) and promoted Bristol Pakistanis emerged 86-run victors away to
Pak Bristolians.
In Division Five, opener Shehan Somaratna smashed an unbeaten 156 from only 105 (16 fours, five sixes) for Bristol Sri Lankans, who brushed past Bath 4ths by 235 runs. In Division Eight, opener Alex Parsons’ 124 off 106 (21 fours) paved the way for Saltford to trump OB Westbury 3rds by 96 runs.
Andy Pickett (122 not out) and Nick Price (98) dominated a 116run success for Bishopston 3rds at
Hampset 2nds in Division Seven, where Martin Millard’s 122 was the highlight of Dyrham & Hinton’s 117-run defeat of Bristol Eagles.
Old Down’s two Saturday XIs were both involved in thrilling finishes that went right down to the wire.
The first team held off Bishopston 2nds by two runs in Division Three, as Greg Welsher hit 53 and Jon Pullin claimed 3-44 from eight overs. It was even tighter for the 2nds who kept their nerve for a one-run victory over Old Park in Division 12, with Josh Little (60) and Shane Sheppard (3-20 from eight overs) both shining.