Hampset 1sts beat fellow high-fliers, 2nds top 300 against Norton

Round-up of Hampset Cricket Club’s matches – Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July.

Four matches brought four victories for Hampset Cricket Club over the weekend of Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July | Photo © WBMUL / Shutterstock.com

Reports by Hampset Cricket Club

Bristol Sri Lankans 1st XI v Hampset 1st XI

Hampset 1st XI secured a two-wicket victory from a low-scoring match against fellow promotion-hopefuls Bristol Sri Lankans at Somerdale, Keynsham, in Bristol & District Cricket Association Division Three on Saturday 11th July.

Ethan Silcox, the Scorpions’ captain, won the toss and elected to bowl.

With a considerable slope for the bowlers to get used to, Hampset began well, Silcox (2-22) removing both of the Sri Lankans’ openers.

In the heat, the Scorpions fielded excellently, taking their chances whenever offered and bowling tight lines.

Freddy Hiscott and James Dorey kept up the pressure from either end, each man taking three wickets for 28 runs.

With the Sri Lankans 70-5, a partnership developed. However, sharp glove work from Josh Smith earned him three catches, and a stumping off Isaac Bogg (2-15) saw the opposition bowled out for 155 with just under eight overs to spare.

Hampset lost two wickets early in their reply. But the ship was steadied by the ever-impressive Bogg, who scored 51 off 58 balls, and Daniel Williams, who reached 30.

With 36 runs needed for a fourth successive Hampset victory and there being only three wickets down, it looked as though the visitors were cruising to a terrific win. However, the Scorpions lost five wickets for 25 runs.

After they lost the vital wicket of Sam Marquiss (20), the challenge now looked like it was going to be too much.

Silcox walked to the crease – and after a quickfire eight runs off four balls, the captain saw his team home at 156-8 with an over in hand.

This was a tight and tense game with a lot of lessons learned by the Hampset players.

Hampset 2nd XI v Midsomer Norton Methodist 1st XI

Hampset 2nd XI piled up more than 300 runs and romped to a massive victory over Midsomer Norton Methodist at Bloomfield Rise on 11th July in Bristol & District Cricket Association Division Seven East.

The Scorpions started the game with only 10 players, as captain Jon Hart was a late arrival due to personal reasons.

Hampset won the toss and batted. Richard Holmes (91) and Oscar Costello (19) opened and put on a solid stand of 68.

Oliver Rose (88) came in and scored at a very good rate, with boundaries flowing.

However, Holmes was caught to end a fine innings and Charlie Dolman (79 not out) arrived at the crease.

Rose and Dolman put on a century partnership at a quick rate, the former falling short of his hundred. He made 88.

Rose’s exit allowed Sam Taylor-Weekes to come to the crease with not many overs left. But an impressive innings brought him 33 not out from 12 balls.

The home side ended with 319-3 and were very happy with the total.

But the Scorpions knew that the pitch was very batter-friendly and it was a hot day, so they did not want to take anything for granted.

Despite Hart’s arrival, Hampset were back to 10 players because an injury to Holmes left him unable to field.

Every home player other than wicket-keeper Rose bowled before the first wicket went down – and that came from a run-out, proving that the pitch was suited to batters and the par score would be very high, especially with a short boundary.

Then, towards the end, Rory Sinclair secured Hampset a second wicket, meaning they would claim at least one bowling point.

Midsomer Norton Methodist ended on 198-2 – and promotion-chasing Hampset were very happy with their performance.

Hampset 3rd XI v Chilcompton Sports 2nd XI

Hampset 3rd XI proved far too good for Chilcompton Sports 2nd XI in Bristol & District Cricket Association Division Nine East on 11th July, racing to an eight-wicket win at Odd Down Playing Fields with almost 13 overs to spare.

Chilcompton won the toss and elected to bat. The hosts opened with a youthful pair of bowlers, Raff Lorenzo and Shan Mahar taking the new ball.

Sports raced to 20 in the first three overs before Lorenzo and Mahar took back control. Lorenzo’s efforts were soon rewarded with the first wicket of the day, bowling the Chilcompton number one for 15.

A good partnership then ensued between the next pair, and the visitors reached drinks at 15 overs without losing another wicket.

The senior heads of Jack Hughes and Tom Hutchings then took up the bowling and they made inroads into the batting.

Tom Hutchings bowled the visitors’ number two for 30. Hughes bowled the number three for 29 and Tom Hutchings then took another wicket, gloveman Ollie Hutchings catching the Chilcompton number four for a duck.

When Jurie Fick replaced Tom Hutchings and picked up a wicket with the next ball, the visitors had slipped from 81-1 to 90-5.

Wickets then fell at regular intervals, Fick securing his second bowled of the day and Hughes’ second victim coming via a Lorenzo catch.

Lorenzo and Mahar then returned to the attack and both picked up wickets. Mahar bowled both of his victims and Raff did the same for his second.

Chilcompton were skittled for 138 – and all five bowlers picked up two wickets each, Mahar 2-18, Fick 2-22, Hughes 2-26, Lorenzo 2-33 and Tom Hutchings 2-36.

Hampset set off in pursuit of the 139 runs to win, keen to lose as few wickets as possible and secure maximum points.

With time and overs on their side, openers Chris Kindon and Henry Bolton played patiently. Their opening stand was ended on 80 when Kindon was out caught and bowled.

Adam Kaby then joined Bolton at the crease and they continued to accumulate runs. Bolton was out just after reaching his half-century, bowled for 54.

That brought Jon Dolman to the crease with 37 runs required for the victory. He smashed 30 off only nine balls, winning the game with a six.

Kaby finished unbeaten on 27 as Hampset bagged a maximum-points triumph.

In a fine team performance, where every bowler and batter used made it onto the club performance board, man of the match was Bolton for his half-century.

Hampset remain in second place in the table.

Hampset Sunday XI v Carsons & Mangotsfield Sunday 1st XI

Hampset Sunday XI took the honours from their North Somerset League Sunday Conference Division Three clash with Carsons & Mangotsfield Sunday 1st XI, winning by five wickets at Bloomfield Rise.

Carsons won the toss and elected to bat in the Sunday 12th July fixture, and the Scorpions knew they would have to bowl tight lines with the short boundary on offer.

The visiting openers started well, with a partnership of over 60. However, Steve Aust soon got his reward for an excellent spell, trapping Ben Child lbw.

A small partnership was then built by the Carsons top order. But before long, the skipper was removed by Jon Hart for 62, leaving the visitors 133-2.

Alfie Robinson then took the ball, and snared his first of four wickets when, with his first delivery, he bowled the number three with a perfect yorker.

Wickets then continued to fall steadily, with Saf Mahar contributing two and Jon Dolman and Harry Hall taking one apiece.

Runs for the visitors became very limited due to an excellent second spell from Willis Skardon, and Carsons finished their innings on 221 all out.

Special mention goes to Charlie Dolman for his efforts behind the stumps, working hard on an extremely hot day.

After the short break, Oscar Costello and Charlie Dolman walked out to the middle, with Hampset aiming to reach their target of 222.

Charlie Dolman was removed early on. However, a strong partnership between Costello and Wishal Henry put the Scorpions in a good position.

Henry fell for 39 shortly before drinks, leaving Hampset 91-2.

Following drinks, a few more wickets went down. Among the players exiting was Costello, who scored a brilliantly made 75, a new personal best.

Jon Dolman then came to the crease to join Hart and hit a blistering 72 off 23 balls. His knock included seven massive sixes.

Hampset reached 226-5 in the 28th over. Robinson was their man of the match, for an exceptional bowling spell that saw him take a four-fer.

The Scorpions’ champagne moment was given to Costello for his two sixes, one of which came off his second ball.

Forthcoming fixtures:

Saturday 18th July:

Bristol & District Cricket Association:

Division Three: Hampset 1st XI v Frenchay 2nd XI (at Bloomfield Rise, 1pm).

Division Seven East: Whitchurch 2nd XI v Hampset 2nd XI (at Norton Lane, 1pm).

Division Nine East: Knowle 4th XI v Hampset 3rd XI (at Ashton Park School, 1pm).

Sunday 19th July:

North Somerset League:

Sunday Conference Division Three: Hampset Sunday XI v Easton Cowfolk 2nd XI (at Bloomfield Rise, 1.30pm).