In a game that had more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie novel Keynsham 2nd XI and Timsbury tied their latest match in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. It was a game that both teams will look back on and think they should have won but ultimately a tie was probably the right result.
Batting first Keynsham collapsed to 121-8 but a sensible partnership between ex-Timsbury batsman Colin Arblaster and the experienced John Courtenay pushed the score up to a much more respectable 169. For the second week running teenager Joe Kinnear picked up four wickets and there was an encouraging debut by Oli Hulbert who opened the bowling and took two wickets. Captain Jon Strand also took two wickets and both he and Jack Williams each held three catches .
It was then the turn of Timsbury to fall into batting disarray and at 84-7 the game seemed up. A stand of 77 between Strand and Graeme Webb then looked to have secured the points for the visitors only for Webb to be caught on the boundary with eight runs needed. In a thrilling finish Strand had to call for a runner after a calf injury. Kinnear was dismissed for three but Strand who finished unbeaten on 40 levelled the scores only for Hulbert to be bowled with four balls remaining .
A superb undefeated innings of 126 from Dan Hill was the highlight of Timsbury 2nd XI’s seven=wicket win at home to Pucklechurch in their crucial top of the table clash in the Bristol and District League Division 6. He was well supported by James Rawlings (29 not out) and Adam Workman (23) as the home side reached their target of 217 with more than two overs to spare. Earlier the visitors had compiled a challenging 216-4 with Ryan Watts leading the charge before falling two runs short of a well deserved century. Steve Clothier showed all his experience with a spell of 3-13 from his eight overs.
Timsbury 3rd XI staged a remarkable recovery in their home game with Hampset 3rd XI in the Bristol and District League Division 14 before ultimately winning by 151 runs. Struggling at 56-5 they eventually totalled 301-8 thanks in large to a sixth-wicket stand of 148 between Neil Hulford and Ben Smith. Hulford missed a first century for the club by just four runs while Smith supported him with an excellent 79. Russell King then produced a late flurry with 47 not out. Frustratingly Timsbury were unable to bowl the visitors out as they finished on 135-9. Freddie Hiscott (36) was top scorer for Hampset with Matt Ball taking 3-16 and Liam Hosford 2-19.
Malcolm Tucker