BRISTOL 2nds 270-7 TIMSBURY 128

The importance of sharp fielding was amply demonstrated as Timsbury suffered another defeat in the West of England Premier League (Bristol and North Somerset) away to Bristol Second XI.

After making a great start to the match and reducing the home side to 5-2, Timsbury put down a series of crucial catches, with wicketkeeper, Sheridan Leech, the main beneficiary. He proceeded to punish the visitors with 116, and with home skipper, Archie Fellowes, making a well-constructed 75, Bristol posted a highly-imposing total of 270-7. Sam Hoddinott emerged with credit from the onslaught, conceding just 24 runs from ten tight overs.

The Timsbury innings never got off the ground, with Bristol holding some fine catches. Sol Thompson battled hard for 25 and Dan Hill contributed 26, but from 32-5 there was no way back, and the home side claimed a 142-run victory with more than twenty overs to spare. Sam Matthews cleaned up the tail with a spell of 4-5 in 2.5 overs.

An undefeated knock of 90 from Greg Passingham was not enough to secure success for Timsbury Seconds, who were beaten by five wickets at home to Bristol Pakistanis Second XI in the Bristol and District League Division Seven. Useful knocks of 26 from Seb Nix and 21 from Joe Kinnear helped Timsbury recover from a shaky start to total 228. The visitors paced their reply well and with Mohammed Harris making 78 and Tanveer Ahmad 68; they won with three overs to spare. Oli Davis was Timsbury’s most successful bowler with 2-42.

It was again left to the Timsbury Thirds to brighten up the club weekend with an excellent two-wicket win away to Pucklechurch Seconds. Batting first, the home side set a stiff target of 219-6, with Josh Stevenson leading the way with 69. Darren Davis bowled a fine spell of eight overs, taking 3-13. Matt Ball then led the spirited Timsbury reply, missing out on a well-deserved century by just three runs, and with under-fifteens’ batsman, Ben Smith, scoring a crucial 36 and Davis 18 not-out, the visitors got home with an over to spare.

Malcolm Tucker