Bath 1st XI closed the gap on second-placed Bedminster to just six points by beating the Bristolians in West of England Premier Cricket League Premier One on Saturday 26th July.
Bath 1st XI are now just six points adrift of second place in the league
Third-placed Bath were four-run winners of a thrilling match at North Parade.
Electing to bat, the hosts racked up 261-8 in their 50 overs.
They were given a fine start by openers Jack Scrivens and Brad Porteous. The pair put on 64 before Porteous was caught by Ollie Meadows off Sam Bowen for 35.
Scrivens was then joined by Ben Church and they added 69 for the second wicket. The duo were separated when Scrivens was caught by Meadows off Harry Bryan for 73 from 82 balls, the knock including a six and 10 fours.
Church (34) was next out to leave the home side 163-3 after 37.2 overs.
Sam Young and Harry Ellison (19) put on 58 for the fourth wicket in 7.3 overs. Young was the man to go, caught for 53 off 52 deliveries. His innings contained eight fours.
But 221-4 became 241-8, and it seemed Bath might not make it to 250.
However, ninth-wicket pair Louis Brown (11 not out) and Matthew Cadywould (6 not out) kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Extras contributed 19.
Paul Muchall was the Bedminster bowling star, with 3-33 from 10 overs.
Visiting openers Meadows and Joe Millard made a solid start to the reply, putting on 52 for the first wicket before the former fell for 25.
Millard was third out, making 48 from 67 balls, but Bedminster number four Jack Henderson looked set to lead a victory charge.
The guests were in a good position at 240-5, with Henderson in form.
But wickets fell and then Henderson’s exit proved a big blow for Bedminster. He was bowled by Spencer Gammon for 73 – off 84 deliveries and featuring two sixes and five fours – to leave his team 248-8 from 48.2 overs.
They finished with 257-9 from 50 overs, Brown the most successful Bath bowler with 3-54 off nine overs.
There were two wickets apiece for Hamish Bell and Gammon.
Bath will be on their travels this Saturday (2nd August), facing fourth-placed Thornbury at The Ship Field.
