-
Venue:
Bath CC 2nd XI v Hanham CC 1st XI
Bath CC 2nd XI v Hanham CC 1st XI
Bath CC 2nd XI remained top of the league after a strong away victory against Portishead CC 1st XI on Saturday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Bath’s openers were swiftly removed as the away side slipped to 27-2. But then Bath rebuilt through Ben Harper and their skipper, Charlie Rustell. The pair put on 98 runs for the third wicket before Harper was bowled for a steady, but important 29. Rustell then went on to blast an 86 ball century eventually falling for an excellent 106. Harry Allen (49*) and Ishwar Suresh (35) batted effectively together, and with the lower order, to get Bath’s total up to an imposing 273-7 from their 45 overs.
Although Portishead lost an early wicket in their reply, the home side swiftly rebuilt and at 85-2 they were progressing well, but the introduction of off spinner Mo Hamza changed the match completely. After snapping up Charlie Mott (24), Hamza tore through the Portishead batting line up also removing opener, Jack Noble (44) who had anchored the innings. In just an eight over spell, Hamza finished with a match winning 6-32 as leg spinner, Innes Pierce also picked up 2-15 at the other end to bowl out Portishead for 172, still 101 runs short of their target.