Combe return to top division

Bath Ladies won the toss and asked Bathampton Sloths to bat in the latest round of Division B matches in the Bath Indoor League.

The openers, Johnny Lewis (26) and Paul Macaulay (27), both retired having established a good foundation, allowing a score of 114 with the loss of no wickets.

In reply, the Ladies were put on the back foot when they lost one of their openers early.

H-owever, they were able to main tain the required run rate up to the seventh over, when after a flurry of wickets they fell short by 18 runs.

Phillipa Skelton-hook topscored with 24 and Macaulay bowled economically with 1-7.

A cracking display of bowling from Combe Down, with very few extras, restricted Bear Flat Dads to 57-5.

Returnee Andy Hulbert took 2-17, father Clive 1-6 and Jamie Mitchell 1-10.

In their reply, Combe Down only lost one wicket as they reached 58 in 6.1 overs, to secure their return to Division A.

Tight bowling from Geoff Parkhurst (1-10) and Chris Sowton (0-9) saw Death Row restrict Old Hinton to 66-5 in this top of the table clash.

A-n unbeaten 32 from Chris Sow ton, with minor support from other batsmen, saw the Row to a winning total in the eighth over, but it not q-uite enough to confirm their pro motion to Division A next season.

T-his was despite young Rory Val lis’s bowling of 2-23 and Graham Tanner’s 1-6.