Match reports 26/27 August
28 August 2023
Bath CC 1st XI v Bedminster CC 1st XI
Bath CC 1st XI remained top of Premier One despite losing by just four runs away to Bedminster CC 1st XI on Saturday. After winning the toss and electing to put the opposition into bat, Bath’s opening bowlers quickly got into their work picking up four quick wickets to leave the home side 41-4. However, opener Ollie Meadows remained at the crease, and began to build a series of partnerships with the middle order to take the score past 150 when he became Bath’s seventh victim, going for an important 52. Despite some contributions from Bedminster’s lower order, Bath bowled the home side out for 188 in the 41st over. Pick of the Bath bowlers were James Arney (3-32) and George Axtell (2-13).
Bath’s reply started badly as opener Jack Scrivens went for two, and number three Campbell McKegg went first ball to leave the score 16-2. Bedminster’s opening bowler Sam Bowen, who had picked up the first two wickets, then claimed the important wicket of Sam Young (12) as Bath slipped to 40-3, but with rain arriving Bath lost three crucial overs as they were set a revised target of 186 off 47 overs. As play resumed Bath soon lost two further wickets to slip to 60-5. Throughout all of this, opener Jason Marshall remained solid at the other end accumulating at just under a run a ball – acting as the glue in the Bath innings. Marshall batted very well with the lower order, but unfortunately Bath didn’t quite get their as Marshall was bowled by Sam Bowen off the last ball for 99 with still five runs required for victory. Although Bath finished 181 all out, top of the table contenders Potterne also lost, so there is no change at the top of Premier One with Bath leading by 12 points.
Bath CC 2nd XI v Winterbourne CC 1st XI
Bath 2nd XI put in a very strong home performance against Winterbourne 1st XI on Saturday. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Bath’s young openers made a great start putting on a century partnership before Henry Allen went for 51. There were then a series of run outs, as number three, Kester Moseley went for 2, opener Ben Church for 52, and Harry Allen for 30. An important 41 from Hamish Bell kept Bath moving towards a defendable score as the home side eventually finished on 214-8 from their 50 overs.
Bath’s opening bowlers then put in their best performance of the season, as they tore through the Winterbourne batting line up with a blend of spin and pace. It just took 13.1 overs for Joe Heywood (5-20) and Harry Allen (5-14) to finish the match as they bowled out Winterbourne for just 38 to win by 176 runs. Bath remains third in the league behind Brislington and Congresbury.
Bath CC 3rd XI v Almonsbury CC 1st XI
Bath 3rd XI played hosts to Almonsbury 1st XI on Saturday at the Brownsword Ground.
After being put into bat, Bath lost opener Bill Simmon’s (22) to a calf injury and Tim Scott went for 10, but Thiaan Aspeling (66), Ryan Kochupurukal (89*) and Richard Pandya (50) all batted very positively to take the home side up to a very commanding 268-3 from their 40 overs.
Bath’s bowlers started well with Matt Henley and Sam Barnes picking up wickets in regular intervals, but with rain arriving, a revised target of 188 from 28 overs was set. The remaining Almonsbury batters then rebuilt with opener, Jack Kewley leading the way with a run-a-ball 65. But with the score on 121, Kewley became Bath’s six victim and the match was almost won as the away sides lower order just couldn’t seem to get any momentum into their chase. As the Bath bowlers continued to bowl well, Winterbourne fell 33 runs short on 154-7. Bath 3rd XI remain in a mid-table position with one match to go.
Bath CC 4th XI v Abbots Leigh 1st XI
Bath’s 4th XI travelled to North Bristol on Saturday to face Abbots Leigh 1st XI. After losing the toss and being put into bat, Bath lost both openers early as rain swiftly reduced the match to just 38 overs a side. When play resumed, Bath slipped to 48-5, but brothers Josh and Luke Welsh batted maturely to build a fine partnership of 63, before Luke went for 22. Chandana Kariyapperumage (17) then batted well, but Josh Welsh was eventually the last man out for a very fine 80, which helped take the Bath score up to 168 in the 37th over.
The Abbot’s Leigh openers then got off to a very strong start, particularly through Ed Markey (78), but with the score on 111 without loss the introduction of off-spinner, Tym Ifans (4-31) proved crucial, as he quickly picked up four wickets bowling well in tandem with young off spinner, Jack Pippett (1-13). But it was unfortunately a story of too little, too late, as the home side passed their target with ten overs still to be bowled to win by five wickets.
