Bath 3rd XI’s lead at the top of the Bristol & District Cricket Association Division One table has been cut to just two points.
Bath 3rd XI lost for the second game running when they were undone by Midsomer Norton 2nd XI
Defeat by 61 runs at fellow title-chasers Midsomer Norton 2nd XI was Bath’s second successive loss, following a 23-run derby setback against Lansdown opposition the previous weekend.
Norton piled up 253-7 in their 40 overs on Saturday 2nd August after being asked to take first knock, solid contributions coming from most of the batters.
Number six Ben Bicknell led the way with 41 from 45 balls, opener Martin Cox scored 36 and number seven Tyler Lane contributed an unbeaten 34. Ed Walker weighed in with 33, Josh Rodd made 27, John Carroll scored 26 – and there were 34 extras.
Cox and Walker were the standout partnership, adding 59 for the fourth wicket.
Peter Biggs, Josh Norgrove-Gray and Will Ireland each pocketed two wickets.
Opener Norgrove-Gray departed cheaply in the response, but Luke Stringer and number three Mike Staves put on 76 for the second wicket. They were separated when Staves was caught for 40 off 45 balls.
However, Bath crashed to 142-6 off 31.3 overs and lost their final wicket 6.4 overs later, being all out for 192.
Stringer was fourth batter to depart, run out for a top-scoring 52, and number five Ben Harper was dismissed the same way. Harper, who was ninth out, scored 46 from 45 deliveries.
Cox had a great time with the ball, snapping up three wickets for only 22 runs in eight overs.
Bath will host third-placed Timsbury 1st XI at the Brownsword Ground on Saturday 9th August in a derby that has taken on extra significance following the city side’s disappointing run.
Now, only 10 points separate the top four teams in the division with four rounds of matches to go.
