Timsbury cruised to an eight-wicket win at home to Portishead in the Bristol and District League Senior Division, with more than twenty overs to spare to move up to third place.

After electing to bat first, the visitors began strongly and had rattled along to 73–1 after just twelve overs, but a mid-order collapse saw Timsbury grab the initiative, and the final total of 162 was to prove inadequate on a good wicket.

Opener, Will Cooper, gave Portishead the perfect start with a fine knock of 59, before he became one of Sam Hoddinott’s four victims. He finished with impressive figures of 4–43, and he received good support from Jon Strand (2–11) and Neil Hucker, who bowled a tight eight-over spell. Robert Chick battled well at the end for Portishead before being last man out for 32.

In reply, Timsbury were never under pressure. Mark Sage and Gary Pearcy put on 58 for the first wicket before Pearcy holed out for fifteen. Sage, who continues to be the star turn in the team, carried the side to the brink of victory with another excellent knock of eighty (fifteen fours and a six) alongside keeper, Adam Brinkworth.

Brinkworth, who had excelled behind the stumps including one fine stumping, produced his best innings of the season and completed an unbeaten half-century with the winning boundary. His knock of fifty not-out included seven fours and two sixes.

After four thumping victories which had seen them lose just one wicket, Timsbury Seconds seemed well on their way to another good result in Division Eight, when they amassed 247 away to Saltford Fairway. Dan Hill led the way with an excellent knock of 118 and Jack Williams contributed 58, but in the end it was not enough. Alex Parsons (96) and Wes Taynton (75) put on 170 for the first wicket for the home side, and Jamie Pattimore helped to complete a seven-wicket win with an undefeated 54.

This week, Timsbury travel to the early pacemakers, Nailsea, who are now second – just four points above Timsbury – while the Seconds entertain league leaders, BAC in a top-of-the-table clash. The Thirds are away to Winterbourne Fifths.

M.Tucker