Title race heads down to last day
Victory restores Lansdown to lead entering final weekend
lansdown moved back on top of the West of England Premier 2 Bristol & somerset division with a dominating win over Midsomer norton - having temporarily been dethroned by a points deduction. The previous weekend, the Combe Park club had been rocked to 51-9 in their huge clash with second-placed Ilminster, thus denying them the chance for three bonus bowling points for taking the final wicket. Though that temporarily kept them top by four points when their defeat was completed, the decision came back to bite them. The league ultimately decided to award Ilminster the three extra points while deducting five from Lansdown for breaking the spirit of cricket. Lansdown played their game in hand at the weekend, the penultimate round of the season, and demolished Midsomer Norton by eight wickets. They were sent out in the field and kept things tighter early, Tom Fogerty chipping out the first wicket. It was first change bowler Dominic Hooper that dominated with figures of 4-32, while Matt Thomas also snagged 3-21 and Louis Mancini 2-12 as Norton were skittled for 87. Lansdown opener Jordan Smith smacked an unbeaten 58 in the reply which was finished in the 22nd over, with Hooper (14no) alongside. The result leaves Lansdown top by 17 points. They visit third-placed Taunton Deane on Saturday for their final game, while Ilminster play bottom side Taunton Deane. ■ PREMIER 1 A rain abandoned match brought Bath’s bid for a title defence to an end with a damp squib. Though league leaders Clevedon suffered a surprise defeat to Downend, Bath were unable to start their run chase against Frocester. They had bowled the Gloucestershire club out for 225, Adam Kelly returning stunning figures of 6-39. Opener Uzi Qureshi had given the bowlers a tough time en route to his 104, but had little support. Lloyd Davies, Paul Muchall, Tim Rouse and a Greg Hay run-out made up the rest of the wickets. ■ PREMIER 2 Corsham were involved in their second tie of the season, this time against neighbours Biddestone in an incredible finish in the Gloucestershire & Wiltshire Division. Corsham chose to bat but struggled to get hold of the innings. Martin Roberts finished top scorer on 40, with No8 Tom Foley next best with 28, as the team were dismissed for 153. But neither could Biddestone put any strong partnerships together. Archie Easton and Jonathan Parker (2-37) did the early damage before Tyrone Isitt began to get a foothold for Biddestone. Nevertheless, they were still reduced to 113-9 when Tom Smith (2-20) saw off Isitt for 39. Joe King also claimed 3-22. But then the comeback began between tailenders Cameron Beath (14no) and Chris Baker (23). They hauled Biddestone level on the scoreboard, with plenty of time to chalk off the final run. Yet in strode Easton (3-27), returning to the attack, to have Baker caught by skipper Roberts and rescue his side. In the Bristol & Somerset Division, Keynsham lost out to Bishopston by seven wickets. They made a reasonable start with opener James Mitchell hitting 56. There were also solid contributions from Daniel Jarman (39) and Richard Pannell (36) but Bishopston restricted Keynsham to 216-7. An opening stand of 87 for Bishopston was followed by a 109-run parternship as Keynsham were never given a sniff. Jack Penn started and finished the innings for an unbeaten 121, while Tom Bryan, Harry Jordan and Ben Clarke claimed wickets. ■ WILTSHIRE division A finalday championship shootout awaits Marshfield as they hauled themselves to within two points of leaders Chippenham. They got there via victory against Marlborough by a mammoth 107 runs. They were led from the front by Sam Jukes, who put on 184 for the second wicket alongside Calum Burnstone (84). Jukes was eventually dismissed for 104 but with the score on 260-4 and Marshfield out to gain every point they could, skipper James Williams chose to declare. That decision earned them two bonus points upon victory, as Marlborough were dismissed for 153. Lachlan Tyler (4-40) and Jeremy Bond (2-23) teamed up to destroy the top order, including a spell of four wickets in the space of one run, which left the hosts 25-5. Harrison Painter (74) staged a minor recovery but the damage was irrepairable. William Pascall also recorded figures of 2-19, with Cameron Walker and Jukes taking a wicket each. Marshfield host Corsham 2nds in their final game this weekend, while Chippenham welcome Marlborough. Elsewhere, Corsham’s 2nd XI ran Warminster virtually out of the title race with a 40-run win. Will Wales was the mainstay thanks to his innings of 67 among the 197 total. Both Andy Davis (20) and Sam Mitchell (28) added key runs. While Warminster began well with a 60-run first-wicket partnership. Mark Coxon Tenty hit 34 of those, enough to end as joint top-scorer with Bradley Parry. Corsham, however, dismissed him first and kept plugging away. They shared the wickets around with two each for Jon Bedbrook, Craig Chaplin, Muchael Myatt and Ned Jones. Ed Vickery chipped in with one and Bedbrook also made a run-out to ensure the win for Corsham. ■ Bristol & north som The Bath 2nd XI turned in a decent batting display against Winterbourne, yet still ended up on the wrong end of a 134-run defeat. Hosts Winterbourne chose to bat and amassed 386-2 from their 50 overs. Richard Trotman was the star, rocking his way to 186 not out from just 146 balls. He featured in a 190run stand with Ben Slade (57) to open the innings. Sam Bracey also added 50 and Chris Taylor 67 not out, the two Bath wickets belonging to Ben Copp and Joe Prescott. Despite losing Charlie Brain early, Krish Velkar (81) and Alain Hewitt (73) put on 126 for the second wicket. But the required rate was always likely to be too much, and the innings eventually petered out to 252-8 at the close. ■ timsbury An exciting end to the season awaits after Timsbury secured a five-wicket win away to bottom club Portishead in the Bristol & District Senior Division. Before next Saturday’s final game of the campaign at home to Nailsea, Timsbury find themselves just one point behind third placed Old Bristolians Westbury with three teams likely to be promoted. After being put in to bat the home side got off to a great start with Cooper and Chambers putting on 67 for the first wicket. Once Chambers had been dismissed by Jon Strand by 29 the innings fell apart, however, and the final ten wickets went down for a mere 41 runs with Cooper eventually run out for 46. Strand confirmed his position in the top ten of bowlers in the division with figures of 5-20 in his nine overs. Skipper Steve Clothier took 2-8 and Kev Sibley 2-17. In reply Timsbury lost Mark Sage and Nathan Hawkins early on but wicketkeeper Adam Brinkworth and Sibley ensured there would be no slip up. Brinkworth hit nine 4s and two 6s in his 56 and Sibley, who has enjoyed an excellent allround season in his second campaign at the club, was unbeaten on 21 when the visitors crossed the winning line. ■ Timsbury 2nds suffered a major setback in their hopes of promotion from Division 8 when they lost by eight wickets at home to a strong Saltford Fairway side now six points behind them in third. The consistent Sol Thompson scored 25 and skipper Ben Hosford 23 in Timsbury’s total of 133 but it always looked well below par, and with Aiden Taynton 43 not out and Alex Parsons unbeaten on 41, the visitors won with plenty to spare. In the final game Timsbury are away to league leaders BAC. ■ Timsbury 3rds have enjoyed their best season for years and are now third in Division 14. Their latest conquest saw them chase down Old Bristolians Westbury 4ths’ total of 220 to win by five wickets. Openers Kelvin Hancock (68) and Lee Hulbert (61) set them on their way and inspirational captain Ash Davis saw the team home with an unbeaten 30. Their final game of the season sees them entertain Winterbourne 5ths. ■ BEAR flat The Bears’ survival prospects were dealt a potentially fatal blow on Saturday as they suf-
fered a 60-run defeat at the hands of local rivals Hinton Charterhouse. Now, with just one game remaining, Gunning’s men must take near maximum points from their clash with basement club Box and hope Winsley inflict a similarly convincing defeat on Nationwide House, the only side that the Bears can catch. Although Saturday’s loss was a convincing one, there were positives to be taken from the manner of the defeat, especially after the huge disappointment of the previous week. Bowling first against an experienced and talented Hinton line-up, the Bears stayed disciplined and intense for 45 long overs as the home side racked up a daunting total of 274-6, Tom Baker and Henry Cheal starring with 92no and 65 respectively. Shreyas Malhotra (3-65) and Mike Smyth (2-48) were the pick of the bowlers. In response, although the Bears gradually fell behind the demanding run rate, significant contributions from Gunning (26), Rob Wilson (37), Alex Woodward (23), Sam Vesey (46no) and Mike Smyth, the latter registering his second half century of the season with an excellent 59, ensured maximum batting points were secured, with the visitors eventually bowled out for 214 in the final over. ■ HAMPSET The 2nd XI welcomed Portishead and despite the overcast conditions the visitors decided to bat first. They made a steady start with both openers making good contributions and despite tight bowling from Dave Marquiss (1-16) and Glenn Shattock (2-26) Portishead ended their innings on 189-5. A 20-minute rain shower meant Hampset’s required total was reduced to 166 from 35 overs. However they made a bad start, losing both openers cheaply and despite useful contributions down the order, particularly Jacob Marquiss (31), Portishead’s total was never threatened as they ran out winners by 27 runs. The 3rd XI’S final league game of the season was cancelled as their opposition, Hallen, were unable to raise a team. The outcome of the matches on the final day of the season for Bristol & District Division 15A left Hampset in a creditable third place. Although not in an automatic promotion place, the thirds are well positioned to move up a division in the league reorganisation expected to take place in the close season. In place of the league match, a good-natured friendly was played against Winsley 3rds, with Winsley taking the win comfortably. Of note for Hampset there were good batting displays by opener Tom Shattock, Ethan Wyatt and Ben Jenkins.