There was a thrilling finish to Timsbury’s first home game of the season in the Bristol and District League Senior Division with their match with Coalpit Heath finishing in a tie off the last ball of the encounter. Chasing the visitors’ total of 190-7 it was a match that swung one way and then the other and both sides can look back on a game they could easily have won or just as easily lost.
After electing to bat first Coalpit Heath were tied down early on by some tight home bowling but a late burst saw them record a challenging total. Opener Mark Baldwin led the way with 51 and Owen Edwards was undefeated with 37 in the visitors’ late charge. Captain Jon Strand was Timsbury’s leading bowler with 3-39 but the home side were not at their best in the field with several dropped catches .
In reply Timsbury lost the early wickets of openers Strand and Mark Sage but a stand of 65 between Kev Sibley (28) and Jack Williams (38) got them back on course before a quick flurry of wickets saw Timsbury sink to 116-6. A match-defining stand from Jesse Bishop (31) and Paul Cracknell (34) then took the home side to 170-6 before three quick wickets left the last pair of Sam Hoddinott and Oli Hulbert needing 13 to win. With the tension mounting three were needed off the last ball and Hoddinott’s cut to backward point saw the pair scramble two runs for the tie. Khalid Ali who posed the biggest threat finished with 3-21.
Timsbury 2nd XI looked well on their way to the their second win of the season when they passed 100 for the loss of just two wickets chasing the Bristol Sri Lankans’ total of 174 in the Bristol and District League Division 5. But the innings imploded and they finished 30 runs short.
Lahiru Perera dominated the home innings with 61 while Dan Hill was again Timsbury’s most successful bowler with 4-31 with Steve Clothier taking 3-22. Hill (34), Adam Workman (34) and captain Ben Hosford (28) got the reply off to a confident start but leg-spinner Anjan Kamal Jeyalingam turned the match dramatically in the Sri Lankans’ favour with a spell of 5-31 that saw Timsbury all out for 144.
Timsbury 3rd XI gained their first win of the season with a two-wicket win at home to local rivals Midsomer Norton 3rdXI in the Bristol and District League Division 13. Batting first the visitors finished their 40 overs on 161-9 with Alex Gardiner top scorer with 54. Liam Hosford (3-31) and Ben Smith (2-27) were Timsbury’s most successful bowlers.
Captain Laurie Jones (55) and Smith (35) batted well for the home side but with eight wickets down Timsbury still needed 30 to win. Martin Richards and Chris Rawlings proved equal to the task and in a tense finish saw Timsbury home with five balls to spare. Callum Bicknell (3-23) and Andrew Carter (2-23) bowled well for the visitors.
This coming Sunday Timsbury continue their National Village Cup journey with a home game against Congresbury.
Malcolm Tucker