Round-up of Hampset Cricket Club’s matches – Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April.
Hampset 1st XI recorded a fine win over Chew Valley but the 2nd XI and Sunday XI lost to Bath Spa University and Bristol Sri Lankans opposition respectively
Reports by Hampset Cricket Club
Chew Valley 1st XI v Hampset 1st XI
Hampset won by 97 runs when they visited Chew Valley on Saturday 25th April for their final pre-season friendly.
Looking to build on a victory the previous week and keep momentum rolling into the start of the league campaign, Hampset were buoyed by the return of Daniel Williams, Isaac Bogg and vice-captain Louie Gratton-Peters.
Hampset started their innings well, with openers Bogg and Ashton Wright both reaching 14 before falling.
A standard Hampset mini-collapse commenced, leaving the Bath club in a precarious position at 35-4.
Stabilisation came in the form of a fantastic innings of 105 retired from Sam Marquiss, supported ably by Oliver Rose who made 40 but had a better strike rate than the centurion.
Sam Marquiss combined power hitting with some delicate reverse sweeps.
And Rose was ruthless in putting away anything with width, hitting one beautiful six over cover point.
Hampset finished on 217-8.
The visitors took to the field and the captain’s gamble of opening with spin paid off with a wicket in the first over.
However, despite good spells from Willie Skardon and James Dorey, the Chew Valley batters recovered well to a decent platform of 80-1 at drinks.
Hampset’s latest version of the spin twins, Bogg (2-11) and Tom Marquiss (4-9), took the game by the scruff of the neck with a fantastic post-drinks spell of 5-16 in 10 overs. The highlight was the pair combining when Tom Marquiss took a good diving catch off Bogg in the 24th over.
Ethan Silcox (2-7) and Sam Marquiss (1-4) capped off another good day for Hampset, Chew Valley being removed for 120.
Hampset 2nd XI v Bath Spa University 2nd XI
On a beautiful day at Bloomfield Rise, Hampset 2nd XI were defeated by one wicket in their only pre-season friendly.
Captain Jon Hart lost the toss and Hampset were asked to bat on a very green-looking pitch.
A good spell of bowling from the opposition’s openers quickly accounted for Hampset’s first two batters. And further quick wickets left Hampset struggling at 36-5.
The recovery began with Sam Taylor Weekes, who made a well-composed 22. When he was out, and the score was 56-6, the home side were up against it.
Jacob Marquiss (21), Jack Hughes (26), Saf Mahar (15) and James Boyle (14) all provided valuable contributions to get Hampset up to a competitive total of 128 all out.
Hampset did well to get to this score considering the precarious position they found themselves in – but they knew it was probably below par.
The Bath Spa openers started confidently until Hampset 2nd XI debutant Raff Lorenzo struck in his fourth over, taking a wicket, bowled, with a ball he says swung with the wind.
The university team continued to chip away at the total and reached 58-2 before Boyle picked up two wickets in an over to bring Hampset back into the game.
Hampset continued to bowl and field well. But the visitors’ number four batter started to look as if he was going to win the game for them with a series of beautifully timed extra-cover drives.
Bath Spa were cruising to victory when Hampset captain Jon Hart entered the attack and quickly claimed the ‘perfect’ hat-trick, his victims including the well-set number four.
And with Marquiss picking up a wicket, suddenly the guests had collapsed from 98-4 to 126-9, still needing three to win.
A wide and couple of byes got the students home.
Although Hampset suffered a defeat, they can take a lot of positives into their league campaign. If they show the same fight, determination and team spirit, good things are ahead this season.
Hampset Sunday XI v Bristol Sri Lankans
A strong Hampset team were beaten by four wickets when they visited Bristol Sri Lankans in a friendly on Sunday 26th April.
Hampset batted first and Harry Hall and Ashton Wright opened.
Despite not being the side’s usual opener, Hall got off to a flier with Ashton.
Although Ashton fell short of his 50, being bowled on 42, the pair put on 99 for an excellent opening partnership.
Then Hall bought up his first senior 50 – but after this, Hampset had a slight batting collapse, going from 99-1 to 116-5 to leave Jon Dolman and Sam Kindon at the crease.
Some useful partnerships at the bottom of the order – Kindon hit 22 and Dolman made 27 – ensured Hampset ended with 194 all out, a pretty decent score.
Hampset’s opening bowlers Hall (2-22) and debutant Dave Barstow (3-31) had an excellent partnership, reducing Bristol Sri Lankans to 31-4.
However, a couple of good partnerships and one batter getting to 50 meant Hampset were in a difficult position.
Despite some good efforts from Hampset, the hosts chased down the total and won in the 32nd over.
If Hampset had taken a few more catches, it would have been different – but no-one can be criticised for their efforts.
Man of the match was Hall for his maiden senior 50 and two wickets.
