While the sun shone overhead there was only more gloom for Timsbury’s first eleven who are still without a win in the Bristol and District League Division 1. After doing well to restrict Shirehampton to 138 in their latest home match they finished up losing by 30 runs with the last six wickets falling for a mere 20 runs.
After inserting the opposition Timsbury made an excellent start reducing the visitors to 21-4 and then 41-5 with Liam Hosford (3-32) putting in a fine opening spell. Mason (51), however, then led a sterling recovery for Shirehampton and the sixth-wicket partnership of 70 between himself and Palmer proved crucial. Martin Richards took two wickets in an over late on to finish with 3-22 to set the home side a very gettable target.
In reply several of the home batsmen got starts without going on to significant scores and when top scorer Mark Sage, who came in on the back of a superb century for Somerset Over 50s earlier in the week, was dismissed for 25 the innings subsided. From 88-4 it became 108 all out with Palmer following up his key batting contribution to take 3-24 and Weare 3-25.
An outstanding knock of 80 from Jake Brooks was not enough to bring victory for Timsbury’s second eleven who were beaten by 38 runs away to Knowle third eleven in the Bristol and District League Division 6. Batting first the home side compiled an impressive 260-7 with two wickets each for the in-form Tom Parfitt and Ben Saunders. Led by Brooks and with good support from Saunders (40) and Dan Hill (23) Timsbury made a valiant effort to reach the target but in the end fell just short.
Timsbury’s third eleven put in the performance of the day beating Knowle fourth eleven at home by 134 runs in the Bristol and District League Division 9 East. Batting first Timsbury were in all sorts of trouble before a superb partnership between Russ King (62) and Steve Clothier (58 not out) took them to the heady heights of 197-8. King then completed an outstanding day conceding just four runs in his eight overs while taking three wickets. Oscar Mallon (3-12) and Matt Ball (2-20) completed the job as Knowle were shot out for 63.
Malcom Tucker