Centuries for Ebdon and Jackman as Bears’ two teams win big

Round-up of Bear Flat Cricket Club’s matches – Saturday 11th July.

James Ebdon hit an unbeaten ton for Bear Flat 1st XI on 11th July – and Alby Jackman did likewise for the 2nd XI | Photo © Brian A Jackson / Shutterstock.com

James Ebdon and Peter Hodson-Thomas led Bear Flat 1st XI to an astonishing 10-wicket victory over Spaxton 1st XI to enhance their bid for the Somerset League Division Four championship.

The duo carried their bats for a superb unbroken first-wicket partnership that produced 209 runs at The Glasshouse Playing Fields in Combe Down on Saturday 11th July.

Sedgemoor side Spaxton elected to bat and posted 204-8 in their 40 overs.

Their chief run-getters were number three and skipper Tim Hill (58) and number four Tom Clarke (54), who put on 87 for the third wicket.

However, Spaxton collapsed from 171-3 to 190-7 and must have been thankful to pass 200.

Peter Wood, Jonathan Heywood and Ebdon each took two wickets.

Ebdon and Hodson-Thomas proved unstoppable in the reply, steering Bear Flat to 209-0 from 33.5 overs.

Almost all of Ebdon’s 136 not out off 107 balls came from boundaries. He hit a six and two dozen fours.

Hodson-Thomas finished with 60 not out from 98 balls, his knock containing two sixes and seven fours.

Spaxton’s most economic bowlers were Adam Richards (0-22 in five overs) and Ben Rich (0-37 from eight overs).

The table-topping Bears are nine points ahead of second-placed Holford 1st XI.

Bear Flat 2nd XI were also victorious on 11th July, beating hosts Harptree Villages by seven wickets in Somerset League Division Six North.

Harptree clocked up an impressive 263-6 in their 40 overs after opting to bat, opener Simon Matthews cracking a six and 16 fours as he made his way to 105 off 89 balls.

He and Steve Thomas (35) shared a 110-run stand for the first wicket.

But it was not until number seven Ben Moore arrived at the crease that any other home batter managed more than 23.

Moore’s undefeated 48 from 50 balls included eight fours.

Ben Thompson was the Bears’ most successful bowler, returning 2-28 in five overs.

Bear Flat fell to 53-2 in response – but Jack Randle and Alby Jackman turned around the innings by plundering 189 for the third wicket.

Randle was bowled by Moore for 90 – from 85 deliveries and featuring 14 fours – but Jackman kept going and was unbeaten on 127 as the Bears closed on 264-3 off 37.2 overs.

Jackman’s innings spanned 110 balls and contained three sixes and 16 fours.

Tom Arrowsmith pocketed 2-37 in seven overs for Harptree, who are bottom of the league.

Forthcoming fixtures:

Saturday 18th July:

Somerset League:

Division Four: Purnell 1st XI v Bear Flat 1st XI (at Bristol Road, Paulton, 1.30pm).

Division Six North: Bear Flat 2nd XI v Winscombe 2nd XI (at Ken Wilcox Cricket Ground, Peasedown St John, 1.30pm).