Swords clinch Cup off final delivery
Rouse smacks quality knock to seal Somerset triumph for Bath
Bath returned home from Somerset’s prestigious County Ground with silverware in the bag on Sunday. They lifted the Somerset Cricket Board Major Cup following a T20 victory over Ilminster in Taunton. Chasing down the South Somerset outfit’s total of 145-6, Bath had to wait until a dramatic final ball to overhaul the total. They were indebted to Somerset county prospect Tim Rouse, named man of the match, for his unbeaten 68. The Swords entered the final over needing eight to win, which then became five from the final two deliveries, but Rouse’s drilled cover drive to the boundary ensured the spoils returned to Bath. In West of England Premier League action the previous day, Bath kept on the coat-tails of top flight leaders Clevedon by overcoming Bristol. The hosts were asked to bat first at North Parade but struggled to acquire runs. The exception was Sam Young, who came in at No5 and anchored the innings with a 119-ball 105. Steady partners were lacking, the next best tally 21 from Tim Rouse, as Bath finished 197 all out on the penultimate ball of the 50 overs. Bristol struggled in a similar vein, although without anyone able to come near matching Young’s total. Both Adam Kelly (3-30) and Greag Hay (3-12) did much of the damage for Bath, Rouse also bagging two wickets. Ultimately Bristol came a full 98 runs short of the Bath total, dismissed for a mere 99. ■ PREMIER 2 Lansdown maintained their 17-point advantage at the top over Ilminster, as they downed Weston-super-mare two wickets. Weston were put in to bat and made good progress with Jack Press (47) and Ben Gully (36) to reach 123-2. Sam Bowery removed both, and although Chris Davidson finished on 50 not out, Weston were never able to up the pace enough to set a truly challenging target. As well as Bowery, Dominic Hooper would also take two wickets for Lansdown, Ryan Thorpe and Jordan Price sharing the others. Opener Thorpe made a blistering start to the chase, smashing 25 from 11 balls before falling. That brought together Jordan Smith and Brandon Allen, who combined for a 111-run stand. Smith would fall for 46 and Allen 56, Daniel Henly then helping to push the score on. At 221-5, needing only eight more for victory, the visitors threatened to collapse as former South Afica international Charl Willoughby, Ashley Allen and Davidson all struck, but Lansdown had enough wickets left to see them over the line. Elsewhere in the Bristol & Somerset division, Keynsham came up 20 runs short against Midsomer Norton. It was a low-scoring game overall, and had it not been for Sri Lankan star Hashan Gunathilaka (48) and Nick Pang (56), Keynsham would have dismissed Norton for less than the 178 they amassed. Sam Wheller took 4-27 in ten destructive overs, assisted by three mid-order wickets for Reg Keates. In a mirror innings, too many Keynsham wickets also fell cheaply, opener Tom Bancroft (60) seeing no support till No5 Alex Taylor (30) came to the crease. But once both had fallen there was little resistance, as Gunathilaka helped mop up the Keynsham tail for 158. Corsham rose to third in the Gloucestershire & Wiltshire division, holding Thornbury 19 runs short of their total. Though Adam Mitchell fell for nought after two deliveries, the combination of fellow opener Chaley Reed and No3 Sam Collier (53) took complete control in a 170-run partnership. Reed finished with a quality 110 before he fell, next man Tom Smith tacking on a handy 30. Thornbury fought back and eventually kept Corsham to 264. In trouble at 7-2 as Martin Roberts (4-59) bagged two early wickets, the Gloucestershire outfit recovered as Marc Lezar (68) and Danny Slade (57) dug in. Once both had fallen, to Joe King and Tom Smith respectively, the lower order were unable to keep up with the pace, nor maintain their wickets, and were finally skittled out in the last over. ■ WILTSHIRE DIVISION Loweorder batsman James Williams performed a rescue job as Marshfield snuck past Warminster by three wickets. Hosts Warminster chose to bat and recovered from a rocky 37-3 start - Thomas Lamb the recipient of all three dismissals - as middleorder men Bradley Parry (47) and David Bateman (30) at one point or another stood alongside top scorer Rory Cullinan, who was dismissed for 66 by Alistair Christie. The innings closed on 218-7, with one wicket for each of Cameron Walker and William Pascall, plus a Jeremy Bond run-out, also recorded. Marshfield slumped themselves to 60-5 when Dave Jenkins (33) and Williams came together. They combined for 92 runs before the former fell, leaving Williams and his 82 knock to push the score deep enough that the tail could get the job done. Corsham’s 2nd XI had an even closer call in their four-run win over Royal Wootton Bassett. Ned Jones’ side amassed 175 having chosen to bat, Mark Hick’s 56 leading the way. Will Wales also added a handy 37, and though the remaining batsman could not add much, nearly every run proved key. The Bassett chase looked in a reasonable position at 126-3, which is when regular wickets began to fall. Craig Chaplin (2-27) and Ed Vickery (2-24) both nabbed two top order victims, but it was Jones and Jack Humphreys that did the damage. The skipper took 2-33 and Humphreys 3-32 to close out a tense finale. Bassett had been only 13 shy with three wickets in hand, but Corsham bowled out the game superbly to ensure victory. ■ BRISTOL & NORTH SOM While the 1st XI hammered Bristol, Bath’s 2nds could not follow suit in the corresponding fixture. They were rolled over for a meagre 139, Joe Jenkins (35no) and Charlie Brain’s 27 all the resistance really offered, despite a 42-run opening partnership. And Bristol had no trouble when it came down to the chase. Monty Keith struck early to send Sam Matthews back to the hutch, but Jim Williams (47no) and Alan Hunt (68) had no trouble seeing the Bristolians to a nine-wicket win. ■ TIMSBURY League leaders Frenchay were made to work hard for victory in their latest Bristol & District Senior Division outing, but once again their soft batting underbelly proved crucial. From 58-0 they quickly subsided to 76-6 and despite another outstanding innings from the consistent Kev Sibley, with good support from the lower order, 164 was not enough despite a disciplined bowling effort. Asked to bat, Timsbury made a cracking start with Andy Carter receiving good support from Nathan Hawkins. Carter hit eight fours in his innings of 37 but once he was first out the innings imploded. Four players failed to score and it was left to Neil Hucker and captain Steve Clothier to give Sibley (63no) the backing he needed. Sibley and Hucker (17) added 48, and Sibley and Clothier 40 as Timsbury gave themselves a chance. Frenchay had to work hard when they responded and tight bowling from Ellis Hancock and Sam Hoddinott restricted the hosts to 14 from their first ten overs. Luck was not on their side, however, and despite having the home side at 116-5 they were unable to remove Mike Donaldson, who had earlier retired sick but returned to make 29 not out, and Eddie Williams (26no) in a match-winning 51-run stand. There was better news for the second and third XIS. The 2nds went into second place in Division 8 with a seven wicket win at home to Bristol Malayalee. Ed Roberts and George Webb each took three wickets as the Bristol side were dismissed for 153. Adam Workman (63) and Sol Thompson (60no) then led the way to a comfortable win. Timsbury 3rds were left to chase a daunting 203-5 at home to Bristol United Banks 2nds but fine knocks of 52 from Matt Ball, 47 from Lee Hulbert and an unbeaten 46 from skipper Ashley Davis saw them home by four wickets. This week Timsbury face another difficult match away to Bristol West Indians Phoenix, the 2nds are home to Carsons Mangotsfield and the 3rds travel to local rivals Midsomer Norton thirds. ■ HAMPSET Despite good leg spin bowling from Tom Matthews (3-42) and maiden league half-cen-