A buoyant Timsbury side began the new cricket season in convincing style with a comprehensive 99-run victory at home to Shirehampton in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. On a slow pitch the home side posted a more than competitive total of 193-9 thanks in no small measure to a patient and mature innings of 61 not out from Kevin Sibley. The visitors who at one stage were 58-9 were eventually dismissed for 94 after a last wicket partnership of 36.
After being put into bat Timsbury lost Mark Sage and Jack Williams early on but useful knocks of 27 from Gary Pearcy and 25 from Graeme Webb revived the home effort before both fell with the score on 70. From then on Sibley anchored the innings and with support from the lower order, notably Jon Strand with 22, enabled the team to bat out the 45 overs with 37 runs coming from the last four of them.
After an absence of a few years Arran Stewart has returned to the Timsbury club and his impact was immediate. In a fine spell of pace bowling he destroyed the Shirehampton top order and when he came off after seven overs he had figures of 4-17 with just seven of those runs coming off the bat. Webb then weighed in with 3-18, Strand picked up two wickets and it needed the experienced Darren Nurse (22 not out) and young pace bowler Danny Conway (14) to hold up the victory charge with the highest stand of the innings. Extras totalling 23 were top scorer.
Next Saturday Timsbury travel to Pak Bristolians who were relegated from the West of England Premier League. On Sunday they begin their National Village Cup campaign with a home game against old rivals Chew Magna and a good crowd is anticipated.
Malcolm Tucker