Bath 2nd XI secured the Bristol & District Cricket Association Senior Division championship by beating Portishead 1st XI on Saturday 16th August.
Bath 2nd XI won the Bristol & District Cricket Association Senior Division championship by defeating Portishead 1st XI at North Parade | Photo © Richard Briggs
The 25-run success at North Parade left Bath an unassailable 42 points ahead of second-placed Downend 2nd XI with two rounds of matches to go.
And the title triumph means the city side will finish the campaign with two trophies, having lifted the Somerset Cricket Foundation Intermediate Cup by beating Long Sutton in the final on Sunday 3rd August.
Put in by lowly Portishead, Bath slipped from 38 without loss to 73-3, Will Cooper accounting for Mike Staves (24) and Charlie Brain (19).
Skipper Charlie Rustell and Hamish Bell restored order by adding 55 for the fourth wicket, the former’s exit leaving Bath 128-4 from 27.3 overs. Rustell was bowled by Matthew Toms for 42 off 46 balls, his knock featuring two sixes and five fours.
The hosts had moved the score to 164-5 when Bell was bowled by Ollie O’Connor for 38 – his 40-ball innings containing two sixes and four boundaries. And that wicket began a collapse which saw Bath lose five wickets for 15 runs to close on 179 all out off 40 overs.
O’Connor was the pick of the attack, returning 4-14 in four overs.
However, any hopes Portishead had of spoiling the party were dashed as, with Harry Allen taking four scalps, the North Somerset team slumped to 43-5 in 17.3 overs.
This became 95-7 but Cooper and Mike Hooper hung around to add 49 for the eighth wicket, the latter departing for 17 – the second-highest score on the Portishead card.
Number seven Cooper’s resistance was finally broken with 40.4 overs bowled. He became ninth batter out, caught off Joe Weare for 69 – with a six and 10 fours – from 66 balls.
The visitors were removed for 154 in 42.4 overs, Allen celebrating figures of 4-15 from nine overs and Weare grabbing 3-27 in 7.4 overs.
Bath will complete their away fixtures on Saturday 23rd August, when they visit basement side Claverham (Yatton) 1st XI.
