TIMSBURY turned the form book upside down with their best performance of the season as they won by 46 runs away to promotion hopefuls Bath third eleven in the first division of the Bristol and District League.

And the village side did so in style, amassing 309-4 in their 40 overs and despite a spirited reply from the young Bath side it always looked a winning total.

It has not been the best of seasons in Timsbury colours for their batting lynchpin Mark Sage but on Saturday he proved that form is temporary and class is permanent as he struck a majestic 103.

He was well supported in an opening stand of 74 by Gary Pearcy and then featured in a partnership of 98 with Kev Sibley who hit a season’s best score of 72. Freddie Hosford continued the onslaught with a fine knock of 55, his first fifty in the senior side, and Paul Cracknell put the icing on the cake with a late cameo of 30, with 20 coming in the last over.

Chasing the large total the Bath outfit required a fast start but Sibley and Sam Hoddinott kept an early grip on affairs. On a true pitch, small ground and lightning outfield, containment was always difficult and the home side fought hard with the highlight a threatening fourth wicket stand of 96 between Sam Preece (66) and Tim Scott (48).

John Bean (36) and Daniel Hope (35) also made useful contributions but as the required run rate started to increase the wickets began to tumble as the visitors fielded well and held their catches. Pearcy, who has not bowled much in recent weeks, put in a decisive spell late in the innings and took the final Bath wicket with the last ball of the innings to end with figures of 4-38 to complete a comprehensive and well deserved victory.

Timsbury’s second eleven were unable to emulate the success of their senior side going down by ten wickets at home to Bath’s fourth eleven in Division Six of the Bristol and District League.

Batting first Timsbury lost wickets at regular intervals before a fine eighth wicket partnership of 86 between Yosef Parvez (51) and Tom Parfitt (45) saw them reach a competitive total of 185-9 with Alex taking 3-19 for the visitors. In the end it proved to be nothing like enough as former Timsbury batter Dave Pippett once again returned to haunt his former colleagues, making an unbeaten 77 together with Pandya with finished unbeaten on 105.

Timsbury third eleven found it tough going away to league leaders Hampset thirds in Division Nine East of the Bristol and District League - and also lost by ten wickets.

Acting captain Paul Sage and Oscar Mallon were the only players to reach double figures as Timsbury were dismissed for 66 with Sarfaraz Mahar taking 3-13 and Tom Hutchins 3-14. Christopher Kindon (37 not out) and Gary Peters (18 not out) then saw Hampset home to a comfortable victory.