Shirehampton and Timsbury made an early start to their Bristol and District League Senior Division match to accommodate the England versus Sweden World Cup match.
The mid-innings break was scheduled for the start of the match, but by 2.15 p.m. the game was all over, with Timsbury romping to a nine-wicket away-win to complete the double over their Bristol opponents.
Batting first, Shirehampton were soon in trouble, and never recovered from 23–4. Opener, Palmer, defied the Timsbury attack and his 34 was more than half the home total. The rest of the side had no answer to the visitors’ potent attack, with Sam Hoddinott recording a season’s best analysis of 5–38, Arran Stewart took 3–21 and Kev Sibley mopped up the innings with 2–3.
A month earlier, Timsbury had failed to chase a modest Frenchay total of 67, but this time there was to be no mistake. Led by Mark Sage who made a rapid 45 not-out, Timsbury overhauled the Shirehampton total of 66 in just eight overs to maintain their third place in the league.
Timsbury Seconds returned to winning ways with a four-wicket home win against Thornbury Thirds. Neil Hulford had a fine all-round match, taking 4–30 in the Thornbury innings of 186–9, and then seeing them home with an undefeated 28 alongside skipper, Ben Hosford (thirty not out). Andy Carter followed up his 2–21 with another valuable knock of forty, while Neil Hucker struck a quickfire 35. Ellis Hancock finished wicketless, but in an unlucky spell, conceded just six runs in his nine overs.
Timsbury Thirds were beaten by 57 runs away to Bedminster Fifths in Division Fourteen, but their good knocks from Matt Ball (77), Will Rawlings (38 not-out) and Skipper, Ashley Davis (twenty).
This week, Timsbury entertain Pak Bristolians, the Seconds are away to Hambrook Seconds and the Thirds are home to Thornbury Fourths.
Malcolm Tucker