Match reports 3rd June
4 June 2023
Bath CC 1st XI v Potterne CC 1st XI
Bath CC 1st XI lost a close fought match away to Potterne CC 1st XI on Saturday.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, the Bath side got off to a bad start when in-form opener Jack Scrivens went for 4. There was then a 50 partnership between Brad Porteous (22) and Jason Marshall (47), but when Porteous was out, there was then a succession of wickets with only Paul Muchall (21) and James Arney (18) making double figures as the Bath side were bowled out for just 161 with almost 10 overs of the innings left to be bowled. Potterne’s Tahir Alfridi was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-39.
The Bath opening bowlers started well by removing both of Potterne’s openers with only 36 on the board. Then, a very steady 35 from number three, Josh Kelly helped Potterne remain on course towards their target, but wickets continued to fall, and at 114-7 with still over 50 required to win, Bath were still in the match. However, number nine, Tahir Alfridi capped off a great all-round performance, by hitting a quick fire 29 to take the Wiltshire side to an eight-wicket victory with six overs still to be bowled. The pick of the Bath bowlers were Paul Muchall (3-49), and James Arney (2-36).
Bath CC 2nd XI v Bristol West Indian Phoenix CC 1st XI
Bath 2nd XI played hosts to Bristol West Indian Phoenix CC 1st XI at North Parade on Saturday. With excellent batting conditions, it was no surprise that Bristol West Indian Phoenix decided to bat first when they won the toss, and this proved a good decision as the Bristol side quickly put 47 on the board before Jack Baber was bowled for 15. There was then succession of batters that got in, but then got out in their 20’s, and when opener, Vishal Mamgai went for 46 and the dangerous ex Bath batter, Ashur Morrison was stumped for 22, Bath looked like they were on top. But number seven, Dylan Young had other ideas, smashing 42 off just 24 balls with four sixes to help take the Bristol side up to a competitive 252-9 from their 50 overs. The pick of Bath’s bowlers were Matthew Henley (3-37) and Josh Norgrove (2-25).
Bath’s reply started very positively, as the openers rushed past 50 before Campbell McKegg went for a quickfire 34. Bath then lost Henry Allen (12) and Ben Church (5), before Hamish Bell and Charlie Rustell started a rebuild which took Bath’s total up to 92 before Bell went for 19. With four wickets down and still over 150 runs required, captain Will Arney joined Rustell and both batted positively to put almost 100 on the board before both Rustell (54) and Arney (48) were out in quick succession to leave Bath 190-6 with 60 still needed to win. Bath was still in a good position with overs still left in the game, but their innings fell away as they lost their last six wickets for 15 runs to lose the match by 48 runs.
Bath CC 3rd XI v Brislington CC 2nd XI
Bath CC 3rd XI travelled to Bristol to play Brislington CC 2nd XI on Saturday. Brislington won the toss and put Bath into bat. Another solid opening partnership between skipper, Thiaan Aspeling (24) and Bill Simmons (58) got Bath off to a fine start and then 73 from keeper, Ted Roe, and good contributions from the lower order from Toby Eayres (37*) and Tim Scott (33) took Bath up to 258-6 from their 40 overs.
Brislington’s reply stuttered from the start with wickets falling around opener, Jacob Wardle as Bath’s opening bowler, Will Ireland (3-28) bowled an impressive spell. There were then solid contributions from Brislington’s lower-middle order but when Wardle went for 51, Bath continued to pick up wickets as the Bristol side began to fall behind the run rate, and eventually Bath ran out winners by 49 runs as Brislington’s innings closed on 209-9. Bath 2nd XI’s second win of the season saw them pick up 19 points.
Bath CC 4th XI v Bristol Lions CC 1st XI
Bath CC 4th XI played hosts to Bristol Lions CC 1st XI on Saturday at the Brownsword ground, which provided the setting for a high scoring encounter. Bristol Lions won the toss and elected to bat, and their innings started positively until their first wicket fell with 34 on the board. This brought number three, Udeepa Munasinghe to the wicket, and despite losing their other opener on 77, Munasinghe (129*) and Suba Subramaniyam (63) then put on a third wicket partnership of 156 to help take the Lions total up to a very commanding 310-4 from their 40 overs.
Bath’s reply started very well as the openers piled on the runs before losing Daniel Hope (23) with 93 on the board. Joe Raay then made a run a ball 26, before Mathan Balasubramaniyan joined opening bat L Stringer. Another 50 partnership was built, until Stringer was bowled for an excellent 86 from 79 balls. With the score on 201-3, this brought number five, Charlie Pritchard to the crease and with quick runs required, Pritchard (44* off just 24 balls) and Balasubramaniyan (63*) took the Bath side close, eventually falling short by just 29 runs. Despite the loss, it was another strong performance by Bath’s young 4th XI against the top of the table team.
