There were huge celebrations in the Timsbury Cricket Club clubroom on Saturday night after the first team had secured third place in the Bristol and District League Senior Division and the second team had grabbed an improbable win away to league leaders BAC in Division 8 to earn a second successive promotion. The first team, who took maximum points in their 149 run win at home to Nailsea, have to wait to see if they will go up to the West of England Premier League as a decision has not yet been made as to whether three teams are to be promoted.
Nailsea who were the early season pacemakers in the Senior Division have fallen away badly in the second half of the campaign and they were comprehensively outplayed on Saturday. After electing to bat first the home side were able to declare after 38.5 overs with 264 runs on the board. Mark Sage again led the way missing out on a well-deserved century by just three runs to finish in the nineties for the third time this season.
Kev Sibley continued his fine run with 45 and there were useful contributions from Adam Brinkworth (27) and Jon Strand (20). Sibley then turned bowler with figures of 4-24 and with Neil Hucker taking 4-17 Nailsea were dismissed for 115 in just over 29 overs. Rob Lange made 31 and Michael Ready batted for over an hour and a half for 26 but Nailsea were never in the game.
The seconds produced their performance of the season to overhaul BAC’s total of 253-9 with nearly eight overs to spare. After a breezy start with a 20-ball 50 from Dan Hill and 44 from Andy Carter, Timsbury looked out of the game when they declined to 156-7. But a superb unbeaten eighth wicket stand between Neil Hulford (67 not out) and Ed Roberts (23 not out) carried them home for a famous victory and promotion.
There was no happy ending to the season for Timsbury thirds who were well beaten at home to Winterbourne fifths. The visitors made 233-8 and Timsbury were bowled out for a mere 52.
Malcolm Tucker
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