Seventh successive victory for magnificent Lansdown 1st XI

There seems to be no stopping Lansdown 1st XI in their pursuit of the West of England Premier Cricket League Premier Two Bristol/Somerset championship.

Lansdown 1st XI’s win over Bishopston 1st XI was their seventh success in a row in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset

The magnificent Down won for the seventh consecutive game when they blitzed lowly Bishopston 1st XI by nine wickets on Saturday 16th August to keep the heat on leaders Midsomer Norton 1st XI.

Unbeaten Norton are 33 points ahead of second-placed Lansdown with two rounds of matches to go.

But the sides will do battle at Withies Lane on Saturday 23rd August, and there is the chance of the title being decided a week later – the final day of the season.

Bishopston opted to bat at Westbury Fields and were made to regret their decision as they lost their first wicket with 11 runs on the board and capitulated against a rampant Lansdown attack.

The hosts found themselves 46-7 and were all out for 69 in 25.5 overs, the largest partnership being 18 – for the eighth wicket – between Gary Booth (10) and Lawrence Cook (5 not out).

Top-scorer for Bishopston was opener Edward Nuttall (13), with extras (12) close behind.

Sam Pearce shone with the ball for Lansdown, snapping up 4-15 in seven overs. But all four bowlers employed by the visitors were highly economic.

Dan Lezar grabbed 2-13 from 5.5 overs, Luke Charlesworth pocketed 2-23 off seven overs and Josh Smith took 1-14 in six overs.

The Down lost skipper Jordan Smith for 20 to leave them 34-1 after 5.6 overs of the response.

Praneel Choughule (3 not out) joined George Scott and played second fiddle to the opener, who finished with an undefeated 48 – featuring a six and eight fours – from 42 balls as the guests reached 72-1 in 14.4 overs.

To Bishopston’s credit they conceded only one extra. Dan Harris returned 1-22 off four overs.