Timsbury 1st XI opened their campaign in the Bristol and District League Senior Division with a crushing defeat at home to Bradley Stoke but there was much better news for the club’s second string and third eleven.
Things could not have gone worse for the first team who were dismissed for a paltry 48 after being put into bat. Only opener Kev Sibley looked at home in testing conditions and when he was last man out for 24 he had contributed half of the total. Benjamin Rivers (5-13) and Daniel Qurshi (3-17) did the principle damage. To their credit the home side made Bradley Stoke work hard for their victory as they took more than 17 overs to secure their nine-wicket success.
Timsbury second eleven began the season in encouraging fashion winning by 41 runs away to Hanham second eleven in the Bristol and District League Division 5. Dan Hill began the new campaign in the same way as he had finished the last with a valuable knock of 50, Graeme Webb contributed 44 and Zak Cox hit a crucial 25 not out at the end of the innings which finished at 146-9.
A generous donation of 30 extras then helped the Hanham response but it was not to prove crucial with the home side dismissed for 105. It was a game to remember for Martin Richards who came on as third change bowler and proceeded to take 6-14 in his eight overs as the Hanham innings imploded.
There were a number of significant all-round performances for Timsbury third eleven who won by six wickets at home to Pucklechurch second eleven in the Bristol and District League Division 13. Batting first the visitors finished on 198-7 from their 40 overs with Charlie Hobbs taking 3-22, captain Laurie Jones 2-22 and Matt Ball 2-34.
Timsbury then made light of the challenging total winning with more than 14 overs to spare. Jones (22) and Ball (28) followed up their bowling with significant contributions and Dave Nowell batted well before falling immediately after reaching 50. But the real fireworks came from Hobbs. He peppered the surrounding field with seven huge sixes and ended unbeaten on 63 as Timsbury raced to the finishing line.
Malcolm Tucker