A match round-up by Hampset Cricket Club – Sunday 24th August.
Hampset Sunday XI were beaten by 78 runs when they took on North Bristol at the BAWA ground
North Bristol Sunday 1st XI v Hampset Sunday XI
Hampset travelled to the BAWA ground to take on North Bristol in their fourth and final return fixture of the season, their last chance to perform the double over an opposition team.
However, the hosts claimed the honours by 78 runs in the North Somerset Cricket League Sunday Conference Division Three match on Sunday 24th August.
Hampset elected to field – and with skipper Tom Marquiss donning the gloves, the all-seam attack looked to make early inroads into the hosts’ batting line-up.
However, it took seven overs – during which 44 runs were scored – before Harry Hall made the crucial breakthrough.
With James Clarke (6-0-16-1) beginning his excellent spell at the other end, it was not long before he claimed his own – much-deserved – wicket, caught by Shan Mahar off the top edge.
North Bristol were 70-2 from 12 overs, so Hampset’s bowlers needed a few more wickets to get on top of their opponents.
However, the home side put on small partnerships for each of their wickets.
When Benji Gleave was introduced with the score at 85-3 from 14 overs, he made an instant impact. The young bowler found the outside edge, causing the ball to make its way into the keeper’s hands.
A second wicket for Gleave (5-0-23-2) was the big one, dismissing the remaining opener for 53.
Unfortunately for Hampset, another small partnership was allowed to develop. And with a few missed chances in the field, the home side made their way to 133-4 from 24 overs before Mahar was given the ball.
Returning to his early-season form, Mahar consistently hit a good area and was able to make the much-needed breakthrough, picking up a wicket with his fourth delivery.
When this effort was backed up with a second wicket in the following over, claimed by Charlie Young, Hampset finally gained some momentum.
Mahar continued his work with a second wicket, finishing with figures of 5-0-17-2.
The reintroduction of Steve Aust (8-0-44-3) and Hall eventually did for the North Bristol tail. When Aust took the final wicket, pouched at slip by Ashton Wright, Hampset were left requiring 183 to win.
After tea, Hampset openers Wright (34) and Hall took to the middle. The latter was the early aggressor – making a few great shots – and the pair ran well, including an all-run four, before Hall fell for 11.
Wishal Henry then joined Wright. They ran a three and then another four in consecutive balls. However, as would become the pattern of the Hampset innings, Henry departed without passing the 10-run mark.
Wright was then joined by John Dolman (8), Alfie-Jay Robinson (0), Marquiss (6) and Clarke (5), with each partner leaving the opener to welcome a new batter fairly soon after they arrived.
Wright batted well but was eventually undone by a change in angle as the bowler decided to come around the wicket, meaning Aust (14) and the tailenders had a large task ahead of them.
Despite the run rate being fine throughout the majority of Hampset’s innings, the falling of wickets took their toll.
It was only thanks to some late heroics from Mahar (7) that Hampset were able to claim their solitary batting point, as they were bowled out for 104.
Young (2 not out) showed resilience towards the end. He faced the second-largest number of balls, after Wright.
Hampset named Mahar their man of the match for an all-rounder’s performance that earned him wickets, runs and a catch.
