Timsbury returned to winning ways in their home local derby with Keynsham Seconds coming out on top by four wickets in the Bristol and District League Division 1. It was a match full of incident with a monumental collapse, a four-wicket over and a hat-trick with the final outcome still in doubt right to the end of a low-scoring encounter.
After batting first Keynsham were sailing along nicely at 86-2 with Gwyther (41) and Johnson (26) well settled. Timsbury skipper Jesse Bishop then brought back teenage opening bowler Liam Hosford who had experienced a fruitless opening spell and the game turned dramatically. In one over Hosford took four wickets with two of the batsmen bowled playing no shot. At the other end spinner Martin Richards joined in the action taking two wickets as Keynsham plummeted from 86-2 to 87-8 in just two overs. The visitors then mounted a late recovery with Stone and Emmott sharing a last wicket stand of 40 before Jez Hare, playing against his old club, took the final wicket as Keynsham were dismissed for 136. Hosford finished with 4-38 and Johnson 3-16.
In reply the Timsbury opening partnership of Mark Sage and Greg Passingham continued their successful run putting on 65 before Sage was caught for 35. Two balls later Timsbury were 65-3 after both Jack Williams and Gary Pearcy went first ball to give Johnson a hat-trick and throw the issue back in the melting pot. Passingham, however, remained to steer the ship closer to home before he was dismissed for a crucial 52. At 118-6 the game was still not settled but a mature innings from Cory Versfeld saw Timsbury over the line.
Timsbury 2nd XI put up a battling performance away to a strong Congresbury 2nd XI before eventually losing by 19 runs in a high-scoring encounter in the Bristol and District League Division 5. Knocks of 82 from Palmer, 73 from Fisher and 49 from Eyles saw the home side total a formidable 258-4. For Timsbury both Ben Smith and Zack Cox bowled tight spells conceding just 44 runs in their 15 combined overs.
Despite the huge challenge Timsbury made a good fist of it. Skipper Ben Hosford produced his best innings of the season with 45, Sol Thompson contributed 31 and Cox then capped a fine individual day making an unbeaten 48 as the visitors finished on a creditable 239-9.
Timsbury 3rd XI were again let down by their batting after another good bowling performance at home to Bristol United Banks 2nd XI in the Bristol and District League Division 9 East. Timsbury had the visitors struggling on 80-7 before they recovered to 149 all out. There were some encouraging returns from two of Timsbury’s younger players with Callum Webb taking 4-31 and Ben Watkins 3-26. Sadly none of the Timsbury side managed double figures in reply and with Morris taking 4-5 they were dismissed for 53.
On a sad note the club was sad to hear of the death of one of its former players Mel Bowen who had been a member of the side which reached the Somerset Cup finals in both 1968 and 1969. The club send their condolences to all of Mel’s family.
Malcolm Tucker