Timsbury recovered from another indifferent start to ultimately run out comfortable 29-run winners at home to Shirehampton in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. From 74-5 Timsbury did well to reach 211 and by the end the visitors were content to bat for bonus points.
After electing to bat first the home side lost three early wickets but opener Mark Sage battled through against some testing bowling and in partnership with Kev Sibley took the score to 74 before Sage was caught immediately after reaching a well deserved 50. The in-form Graeme Webb followed him straight away and Timsbury looked in trouble. Sibley was then joined by Jesse Bishop, however, and the two of them transformed the home side’s fortunes.
Timing the ball beautifully Bishop played one of his best innings for the club and with Sibley doing what he does best and adding solid support, the pair added a rapid 95 runs. Like Sage, Bishop reached an excellent 50 before departing immediately. Captain Jon Strand struck a quick 22 and Sibley was last man out for another crucial knock of 36. Danny Conway (3-26) was Shirehampton’s most successful bowler.
When the visitors replied they were soon in trouble but from 5-2 they recovered thanks to a partnership of 73 between Gareth Nicholls and Dhanush Thiagaraj before Neil Hucker removed the latter for 37. Greg Passingham dismissed the dangerous Nicholls for 46 and bowled Rogers for 0 as Timsbury took a stranglehold on the match. Shirehampton declined to 134-7 but visiting captain Stillwell remained defiant and ushered his team to 182-7 at the close. There were two wickets each for Sibley, Hucker and Passingham.
Timsbury seconds came out on the wrong side of a high quality match away to Bristol Pakistanis seconds losing by 33 runs in the Bristol and District League Division 6. The home side rattled up an imposing 244-5 with young Oli Hulbert again bowling well to take 3-30. Timsbury made a spirited reply and when Dan Hill and Gary Pearcy were together the target looked well in sight. When the two were dismissed in quick succession, Hill for 73 and Pearcy for 30 the effort stalled and despite a rapid 41 from Rob Clothier Timsbury came up short.
Malcolm Tucker