Timsbury came up well short against runaway Bristol and District Cricket League Senior Division leaders Bedminster 2nd XI and were beaten by six wickets at home in the last match of the first half of the season. A total of 105 was never going to be enough to test the Bristol side although Timsbury did manage to take four wickets and gain two bonus points.
Having elected to bat first Timsbury made a steady start and Mark Sage and Adam Brinkworth looked confident in an opening stand of 27. After the latter was bowled the innings fell apart with the only bright spot being another encouraging innings from Jesse Bishop. He finished 25 not out before eventually running out of partners. Harry Drissell was the main destroyer taking 5-29 in an impressive nine-over spell.
The visitors’ reply was held together by experienced opener Mark Coombes who hit an undefeated 59. Greg Passingham continued his wicket taking season with a late spell of 2-8 and was close to achieving a hat-trick with Tom Pugsley and Bailey Peacock going in successive balls.
There was much better news of the other two Timsbury league sides. The 2nd XI were set a challenging total of 210-9 away to Bristol United Banks in the Bristol and District Cricket League Division 6 but they made light of the target and took just over 26 overs to wrap up an eight wicket win. A superb opening stand of 182 between Adam Workman (87) and Dan Hill (81) set up the victory with Gary Pearcy and Joe Kinnear finishing the job off. Earlier Hill had also been Timsbury’s most successful bowler with figures of 4-35 while there was a brace for Oli Hulbert and Steve Clothier. Vipul Sharma and Bilal Raja both scored 59 for the home side.
Timsbury 3rd XI went up to second place in the Bristol and District Cricket League Division 14 after a convincing seven-wicket win away to Carsons and Mangotsfield 3rd XI. Batting first the home side were dismissed for 154 with Russell King bowling an outstanding spell of 3-8 in his eight miserly overs. There were also three wickets for Seb Nix who finished with 3-16. Opener Will Rawlings then dominated the Timsbury reply with an undefeated 70 and with skipper Laurie Jones contributing 35 the visitors came home with plenty to spare.
Malcolm Tucker