I t proved a difficult weekend for Timsbury Cricket Club with all three teams losing their league games on Saturday before the first team exited the National Village Cup on Sunday with a 48-run defeat at home to Congresbury. The main achievement, however, was the club managing to field three teams on Saturday despite an abnormal number of unavailabilities.
Timsbury 1st XI wasted an excellent start in their eight-wicket away defeat to Bristol West Indian Phoenix in the Bristol and District League Senior Division. An opening stand of 63 between Mark Sage and Jon Strand set Timsbury on their way and when Sage was dismissed for 45 the visitors had reached 99-2.
The last nine wickets then fell for just 48 runs as Timsbury were reduced to 147 all out. An opening stand of 93 between Nick Clark (64) and Raj Chudasama laid the platform for a comfortable win with Chudasama unbeaten at the end with 61.
After electing to bat first in the National Village contest West of England Premier League side Congresbury were in trouble at 129-7 before an eighth wicket stand of 111 between captain Justin Yau (66 not out) and Joseph Thompson (59) totally transformed the match with the visitors posting a formidable 248. Gary Pearcy, Sam Hoddinott and Joe Kinnear each took three wickets. Mark Sage then continued his impressive start to the season with a fine knock of 95 but despite useful contributions from Strand, Pearcy and Sol Thompson the home side found the target a step too far.
A severely depleted second eleven put up a battling display before eventually losing by 13 runs at home to Pucklechurch in the Bristol and District League Division 5. Ryan Watts topscored with 41 as the visitors finished their 40 overs on 175-8. Dan Hill continued his good beginning to the campaign with figures of 3-25, Neil Hucker took 2-31 and there was an encouraging spell from Liam Hosford who was economical with a return of 1-22 from six overs. Hucker with 37 and Thompson (31) kept Timsbury in the chase but they eventually fell just short. There were three wickets each for Mitchell Springer and Kane Wynter.
Timsbury 3rd XI fielding a number of youth players also put in a credible performance before losing away to Pucklechurch 2nd XI by four wickets in the Bristol and District League Division 13. Josh Tucker (57), captain Laurie Jones (43) and Ashley Davis (28 not out) all batted well as Timsbury compiled 168-7. Jones then led from the front as the visitors looked to defend their total with bowling figures of 4-33 but Pucklechurch reached their target with just under two overs to spare.
Malcolm Tucker