Impressive wins open season for Hampset 3rd XI and Sunday XI

Round-up of Hampset Cricket Club’s matches – Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May.

Reports by Hampset Cricket Club

Hampset 3rd XI v Bristol United Banks 2nd XI

Hampset 3rd XI welcomed Bristol United Banks 2nd XI to Odd Down Sports Ground on Saturday 2nd May for their first fixture of the Bristol & District Cricket Association Division Nine East season.

With heavy rain forecast for only a few hours after the toss, a big performance from one side was going to be needed to produce a result – and Hampset produced it to secure a nine-wicket victory.

Winning the toss, the guests’ skipper elected to bat on a dry and cracked surface. Therefore the plan from the off for the Scorpions was to bowl and field as a unit and force quick wickets.

Kit Vella and Dave Barstow opened up for Hampset and both kept things very tight for the first few overs.

The intensity and noise from the fielding side soon paid off, with Vella removing the Bristol number two thanks to a well-judged catch from Charlie Dolman at mid-on.

Tight bowling and excellent fielding kept the score down for several more overs before Vella bowled the other opener for 8, the visitors now 22-2 from 11 overs.

Vella continued from the top end and Barstow was replaced by Sam Taylor-Weekes, who bowled one of the best spells many present had seen from a junior player.

This pressure from both ends soon told and Vella was at it again, removing the number four via a stunning one-handed, over-the-head, running-backwards catch from Sam Kindon at backward point.

A great bit of work in the field from Barstow, which combined a diving stop and a quick pick-up and throw into keeper Ollie Hutchings, led to the Bristol skipper being run out.

This wicket triggered the fall of four wickets for only one run, Vella picking up another via a fantastic running catch from Charlie Dolman, and then an LBW for his five-fer.

At the other end, Taylor-Weekes finally picked up a richly deserved wicket, bowling the opposition number eight.

That flurry of wickets left the travellers 34-7.

Just before drinks, Taylor-Weekes pocketed his second wicket, with another clean bowled.

At drinks, with much darker skies overhead, the score had crept to 42-8.

With skipper-for-the-day Tom Hutchings and the returning Barstow in the attack, the last two wickets were needed quickly for any chance of a result.

Some astute field placements and rotations built pressure and then Hutchings obliged by bowling the number 10 before Barstow completed the innings via an LBW.

Bristol United Banks all out for 60 in 24 overs, Pearson’s 8-3-10-5 his best figures for Hampset.

Taylor-Weekes’ figures of 5-0-10-2 were impressive in themselves but did not do his spell full justice.

Hutchings finished with 1-15 and Barstow returned 1-24.

With drizzle threatening to fall, a rapid turnaround soon saw Chris Kindon and Vella heading for the middle with quick runs required.

The overcast conditions helped the ball to do a bit, so both openers started watchfully.

With drizzle soon in the air, the duo accelerated, reaching their 50 partnership in the 11th over.

Vella was bowled for 26, just before the victory arrived a few balls later via a glorious cover drive from Dolman and a couple of quick singles.

No sooner had the match finished than the heavens opened and the pitch was washed out.

Kindon finished on 21 not out and Dolman was 5 not out.

This was a brilliant start to the season for Hampset, with a near-perfect performance.

The bowling, ground fielding, catching, team ethic and tactics were all spot on.

Everyone played their part in a superb 19-point win. With all other matches in the division abandoned, Hampset sit top of the tree after the first round.

Hampset’s man of match was Vella for his performance with both ball and bat.

Hampset Sunday XI v Bradley Stoke & Almondsbury Sunday 2nd XI

Hampset Sunday XI turned in a smart, all-round performance to claim a comfortable seven-wicket win at Bloomfield Rise on Sunday 3rd May, wrapping up the chase with plenty of overs in hand.

After being put into bat in the North Somerset League Sunday Conference Division Three fixture, the visitors posted 180-8 from their 40 overs – a competitive total built around a fine knock from A Singh, who anchored the innings with 66 from 84 balls.

He found support through the order but Hampset’s bowlers kept things under control, operating as a disciplined unit to prevent any late acceleration.

In response, Hampset made light work of the chase. The top order set the tone early, combining solid shot selection with positive intent to build a strong platform.

From there, the hosts shifted through the gears, taking advantage of loose deliveries and keeping the scoreboard ticking at a good rate.

Key contributions with the bat ensured there were no alarms, and Hampset powered to 181-3 in just 27.5 overs.

The innings was characterised by clean hitting and sensible running, with the main scorers guiding the side home in confident fashion.

Earlier in the day, Hampset’s fielding effort had also played its part.

Despite a few steady partnerships from the visitors, wickets came at important moments and the home side maintained good pressure throughout to keep the target within reach.

For the hosts, Ashton Wright (63), Wishal Henry (30) and Charlie Dolman (33 not out) provided strong top-order contributions in a fluent chase.

This was a composed and clinical display from Hampset, who combined tight bowling with confident batting to secure a well-earned victory.

Long Ashton 1st XI v Hampset 1st XI

Hampset 1st XI began their Bristol & District Cricket Association Division Three campaign on Saturday 2nd May with a rain-ruined match at Long Ashton 1st XI, where they were put into bat after losing the toss.

The innings got off to a difficult start in cloudy conditions as Ashton Wright was bowled for 4 in the opening over, leaving Hampset 4-1.

Isaac Bogg responded positively, finding early rhythm, and Louie Gratton-Peters – coming off a duck in pre-season – settled in carefully at the other end.

Bogg struck a fluent 43 from 42 balls before being caught at cover, bringing his side to 65-2.

He and Gratton-Peters had added a valuable 61-run partnership to steady the innings. From there, Gratton-Peters and Dan Williams rebuilt superbly.

At the halfway stage, Hampset were well placed at 119-2.

Gratton-Peters, growing in confidence after a patient start, brought up his 50 in fortunate fashion when a fielder stepped over the boundary rope attempting a catch, resulting in six runs to reach the milestone.

Williams contributed a steady 37 before being caught at mid-off. The score was 173-3, the pair having shared a crucial 108-run stand for the third wicket.

Sam Marquiss then added a quick-fire 39 off 23 balls before being caught at mid-wicket, leaving Hampset 236-4.

Gratton-Peters went on to top-score with an excellent 85, eventually being caught in the deep to make the score 245-5.

Oliver Rose was the final batter to fall – 259-6 – and Hampset closed their 40-over innings strongly.

Rain brought the game to a premature end during the second innings, denying Hampset the chance to press for victory.

The match was abandoned – but the visitors’ dominant display in the middle ensured maximum batting points.

Hampset took 11 points from the fixture to start their season on a positive note.

Hampset 2nd XI v Bristol Mavericks 1st XI

Hampset 2nd XI started their Bristol & District Cricket Association Division Seven East season at home to Bristol Mavericks 1st XI on Saturday 2nd May, this match also ended early by rain.

Jon Hart led the home side – and knowing it was important to bowl first to force a result, he subsequently lost the toss and they were put into bat.

Matt Hill and Adam Hodgson opened the batting and started well before the latter departed, having missed a straight full toss.

This brought Oscar Costello to the crease – and he and Hill put together a 73-run partnership.

Costello played wonderfully off his legs to punish the bowling to motor to 37 before the pitch misbehaved on the last ball before drinks, and he offered up a simple catch.

Next batter Josh Smith quickly got into his groove, punching the ball into the offside and taking advantage of there being pretty much a single everywhere.

Hill reached his 50 with a sublime shot down the ground before hitting the next delivery for 6.

Just as Hill looked to up the ante, the pitch misbehaved yet again. A long hop got some uneven bounce, taking the top edge, to offer up a simple caught-and-bowled chance. Hill departed for a well-made 59.

Jacob Marquiss joined Smith and immediately looked to rotate the strike. Thanks to a couple of well-struck boundaries and a cover-drive six, Marquiss got to 20 before offering up a catch.

Hart then arrived at the crease with the score 180-4. He and Smith played sensibly before taking the last five overs for 50 runs, slaying the bowling to all parts including some cut shots behind point, a couple of sixes and a well-run four.

Smith finished on 60 not out off 56 balls and Hart struck an unbeaten 38 off 21 deliveries.

Hampset finishing on 246-4, picking up maximum batting points.

The heavens then opened and the teams were unable to get back onto the pitch.

This was a good start to the season for Hampset, who were slightly disappointed by the abandonment as they fancied getting a win on the board.

Forthcoming fixtures:

Saturday 9th May:

Bristol & District Cricket Association:

Division Three: Hampset 1st XI v Bristol Sri Lankans 1st XI (1pm).

Division Seven East: Midsomer Norton Methodist 1st XI v Hampset 2nd XI (1pm).

Division Nine East: Chilcompton Sports 2nd XI v Hampset 3rd XI (1pm).

Sunday 10th May:

North Somerset League:

Sunday Conference Division Three: Carsons & Mangotsfield v Hampset (1.30pm).