An unbeaten century from opener Robert Knight paved the way for Hanham to overcome Timsbury by six wickets at home in their basement battle in the Bristol and District League Division 1. After setting a competitive target of 194-9 the visitors were always in the game but dropped catches and a devastating injury to teenage opening bowler Liam Hosford ultimately proved costly.
After electing to bat first on another blisteringly hot day Timsbury worked hard to maintain the momentum of their first win of the season the previous week. Lew Redwood (51) and Jon Strand(37) both produced their best knocks of the season and their fourth-wicket partnership of 55 set up the challenging total. Paul Cracknell too celebrated his recall to the team with a typically lively knock of 31. Knight, Aingworth, Alway and Bikram Hota each took a brace of wickets for the home side.
Knight dominated the home side’s reply after Liam Hosford had taken two early wickets in an impressive early spell. Strand followed up his batting with a tight spell of 1-25 in his eight overs but the match still hung in the balance when Hosford returned at the close of the innings. With just his second ball he received a sickening blow to the face and went to hospital where it was diagnosed as a broken jaw. As captain Jesse Bishop did his best to juggle his resources it proved a pivotal moment and Hanham got over the line with 11 balls to spare.
Timsbury’s second eleven had a day to forget in their home match with Golden Hill 4th XI and were beaten by 122 runs in the Bristol and District League Division 6. It had all begun so encouragingly for the home side who reduced the Bristol side to 79-5 mainly due to Zack Cox who recorded the fine figures of 4-46 from his eight overs. One of the youngest members of the side Daniel Gifford also shone bowling well to take 1-12 from five overs but a late flourish from Porter, who made an unbeaten 63, took the visitors to a challenging 200-8. Cory Versfeld and Dan Hill gave Timsbury a solid start but from 47-1 the innings imploded dramatically and losing their last nine wickets for a mere 31 runs they were dismissed for 78. Woodworth with 5-14 and Hughes (3-9) instigated the disappointing collapse.
Malcolm Tucker