Bath CC 1st XI v Bristol CC 1st XI

Bath CC 1st XI v Bristol CC 1st XI

Bath’s 1st XI continued their return to form in the league on Saturday by beating Bristol CC 1st XI by 140 runs.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Bath made a steady start with openers Jack Scrivens and Ben Wells posting a 50 partnership before Wells (40) was dismissed. This brought overseas batter, Harry Dixon to the crease and with Scrivens this pair built another important partnership of 63 before Dixon went for a run-a-ball 33. At 128-2 and with the in form Sam Young striding to the wicket, Bath looked in a strong position to take their score up close to 300, and this proved the case as Young quickly got into his work just as Scrivens began to really impose himself on the match, and these two batters swiftly compiled a stand of 89 in just 13 overs, but shortly after Scrivens posted a fantastic century, he was bowled for 101. Young continued to bat well with the lower order, ensuring that a further 68 runs came off the last 10 overs with Young just falling before the end for a run-a-ball 61 as Bath posted 289-6 from their 50 overs.

Bristol’s reply never really got going, as the dangerous Nic Halstead Cleak (11) was bowled by Spencer Gammon in the fourth over. Wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals as the Bath seamers left the away side reeling at 76-5. Although Jake Carstens (39) and Jack Ellison (31) briefly rebuilt the innings, the introduction of off spinner, Harry Dixon destroyed any chance of Bristol getting anywhere close to Bath’s score as he picked up the wickets of both Carsten and Ellison and then picked up three further wickets in just 2.4 overs to finish with figures of 5-6 as Bristol were bowled out for just 149 in the 37th over. Although Bath remain second from bottom in Prem One, they are now closing the gap on the sides immediately above.