Bath CC 3rd XI v Hanham CC 1st XI

Bath 3rd XI played hosts to Hanham’s 1st XI at the Brownsword Ground on Saturday.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Hanham’s openers got off to a steady start, putting on 62 for the first wicket before Robert Knight (34) was caught behind. Hanham then slipped to 89-4 through the effective spin bowling off Will Poulton (2-39) and Max O’Farrell (1-30), but keeper, Dan Jackson then steadied the ship by smashing 61 from just 32 balls before getting bowled by George Wylie, who returned to the attack to pick up three quick wickets. Bath’s seamers then continued to bowl tightly to restrict the away team to 213-9 from their 40 overs.

Bath’s reply started badly as Will Poulton (1) went with just nine on the board, and then Dan Hope was run out for 18 to leave Bath teetering on 25-2. But Ben Harper then played the anchor as he continued to lose partners before he was joined by Sam Simmons. These two batters then added 87 for the fifth wicket before Harper went for 49 agonisingly short of his half century. Simmons then continued to bat well with skipper, Tim Scott (25) but when he also went for 49, Bath slumped from 164-6 to 193 all out to lose by 20 runs.