For the second time this season Timsbury came up well short against Bradley Stoke in the Bristol and District League Senior Division losing on their opponent’s ground by 109 runs. Chasing a large total of 276-8 the visitors made a good start in reply but after reaching 66-0 they then proceeded to lose six wickets for just 18 runs and altogether in the chase no fewer than six batsmen failed to trouble the scorers.
After electing to bat first Bradley Stoke lost the influential Tom Laver early on to the bowling of Kev Sibley but despite economical bowling from Sibley and Sam Hoddinott the home side made steady progress. Knocks of 72 from Owen Onslow, 52 from Ash Baber and 42 from Anthony Beaven put them in a strong position. There were three wickets each for Greg Passingham and Graeme Webb but the visitors struggled to keep a tight hold on the innings.
A new opening partnership of Sibley and Passingham gave Timsbury the perfect base to challenge the total but after Passingham (37) and Sibley (22) departed in quick succession the innings fell apart and in no time Timsbury were 84-6. A typically breezy knock of 34 from Paul Cracknell, who was playing his first match in the senior side this season, brought some joy to the innings and it was good to see wicketkeeper Adam Brinkworth reach his top score of the campaign. After Timsbury had sunk to 121-9 Brinkworth added 46 for the last wicket with Hoddinott before he was dismissed for 34. Hoddinott finished unbeaten on 17. Daniel Qureshi did most of the damage for the home side with figures of 5-40.
There was a blow for the club’s second eleven in their quest for promotion from the Bristol and District League Division 6 when their home game with Almondsbury had to be cancelled but the third team kept up the pressure in the Bristol and District League Division 14 with a clinical 10-wicket win away to Frenchay 4th XI. Ellie Donaldson held the home innings together with a well constructed knock of 40 but a fine spell of bowling from Neil Hulford, who took 5-13 in 7 overs, saw Frenchay dismissed for 131. There was also two wickets for Matt Ball. Will Rawlings and captain Laurie Jones then made light of the chase knocking off the runs in just over 17 overs. Rawlings finished undefeated on 65 and Jones was 53 not out.
Malcolm Tucker