Bath 3rd XI were left to rue giving away 57 extras as they were knocked off the top of Bristol & District Cricket Association Division One, courtesy of their third straight defeat.
Extras proved very costly for Bath 3rd XI when they faced Timsbury 1st XI
The city side are now in fourth place, eight points adrift of new leaders Whitchurch, after losing by three wickets – off the last ball – at home to title-challengers Timsbury 1st XI on Saturday 9th August.
Bath chose to bat at the Brownsword Ground and were all out for 239 in 40 overs.
That marked an impressive recovery, as they had crashed to 18-3.
Ben Harper and Josh Norgrove-Gray led the fightback, putting on 54 for the fourth wicket before the latter fell for 37 – with two sixes and half-a-dozen fours – off 23 balls.
Harper was then joined by skipper William Simmons and the duo added 76 for the fifth wicket. They were separated when number three Harper was stumped for 48, his 64-ball knock including a six and three fours.
Simmons went on to make 57 – from 53 balls and featuring a six and half-a-dozen boundaries – but was next out to leave Bath 180-6.
Number eight Richard Pandya made 38 from 39 balls, six of which were struck to the rope.
Each of Timsbury’s five bowlers – Kevin Sibley, Gary Pearcy, Jonathan Strand, Martin Richards and Greg Passingham – took two wickets.
The villagers slipped to 18-2 in response. But Lewis Redwood (34), Paul Cracknell (39), captain Jesse Bishop (34), Strand (32) and Pearcy (22 not out) ensured Timsbury squeezed home off the final ball, closing on 241-7 from 40 overs.
Tim Scott was the most successful home bowler, pocketing 2-32 from eight overs. However, he gave away 17 wides – and the top-scoring contribution from half-centurion Mr Extras proved crucial in the final analysis.
Bath will visit fifth-placed Lodway 1st XI in the league on Saturday 16th August.
