-
Venue:
Bath CC 3rd XI v Lodway CC 1st XI
Bath CC 3rd XI v Lodway CC 1st XI
Bath’s 3rd XI slipped to fourth position in B&D Division One after losing their third match in a row on Saturday as they narrowly lost by four wickets against Lodway CC 1st XI.
After Bath won the toss and chose to bat first, they got off to a strong start as young openers, Luke Stringer and Sam Simmons put on 70 for the first wicket before Stringer was out for 18. Bill Simmons then teamed up with his son to add a further 52 in quick time, but then both Simmons’ went with Bill making a rapid 24, and Sam making an excellent run-a-ball 79, to leave Bath 136-3. Ben Harper (28) and Tim Scott (40) then continued the momentum and when Harper was out, Josh Norgrove hit one of the most powerful knocks of the season, as he hit 55 off just 18 balls with five fours and five sixes. As wickets continued to fall, Bath were eventually bowled out in the 39th over for a very competitive 263. Unfortunately Norgrove had sustained a significant injury during his innings, which meant that Bath would need to just field ten when Lodway batted.
Lodway’s reply then got off to a flying start as openers Adam Robson and Tobias Rice put on 90 for the first wicket, before Rice was out caught and bowled by Charlie Pritchard for 38. Lodway then slipped to 100-2 as Pritchard bowled Ben Stitfall (8). Robson then set about anchoring the Lodway innings as he batted effectively with the middle order to take the home side to 237-6 when he was eventually out for an excellent 123 to Luke Welsh (3-48) who had bowled with good pace. At 237-6 and requiring 27 runs for victory, Bath still had a slim chance of a win but needed to continue to take wickets. But the Lodway keeper, Stephen Edmonds (25*) had other ideas, hitting five fours in an undefeated innings, which took the home team to a four wicket win with eight balls still to be bowled. Charlie Pritchard also bowled well to pick up 3-58.