Staves hits 85 as Bath 2nd XI beat Cleeve to close in on title

Mike Staves hit 85 as Bath 2nd XI secured a four-wicket victory at Cleeve 1st XI on Saturday 9th August in the Bristol & District Cricket Association Senior Division.

Bath 2nd XI head the Bristol & District Cricket Association Senior Division with three rounds of matches to go

After deciding to bat, the hosts recovered from 30-2 to clock up 223-9 in 45 overs.

Cleeve’s best partnership was between opener and captain Sam Williams and number five Karabo Motlhanka, who crafted a fourth-wicket stand worth 94.

They were parted when Williams was caught off Hamish Bell for 73, his knock including seven boundaries and spanning 115 balls.

Botswana international skipper Motlhanka was sixth out. And his exit was the start of a collapse that saw four wickets tumble for only two runs, Harry Allen claiming two scalps on his way to 3-46 from eight overs.

Bell also pocketed three wickets, his seven overs going for 40 runs.

Motlhanka, who has played first-class cricket in Zimbabwe, made 53, with five fours, off 83 balls.

Bath openers Staves and Ishwar Suresh made a superb start to the reply, putting on 101 for the first wicket before the latter was caught for a 32-ball 40 that featured a six and four boundaries.

By the time Staves became fourth batter out – he faced 78 balls and hit 15 fours – the city side needed only 27 runs for victory.

Bell (24) and Allen (6) then fell before the target was reached, but table-toppers Bath made their way to 225-6 from 33.2 overs.

Skipper Charlie Rustell, batting at number four, contributed 21.

However, the third-highest score came from extras, which added 29 to the total.

Cam Elswood was the most successful Cleeve bowler, picking up 3-26 in four overs. But Mitchell Want was far more economic, his 6.2 wicketless overs costing 21 runs.

Bath, who lead second-placed Downend 2nd XI by 37 points with three rounds of matches remaining, will be at home to Portishead 1st XI in the league on Saturday 16th August.

Meanwhile, Bath Wanderers 1st XI will be back in action on Sunday 17th August.

They will entertain Devizes 1st XI at North Parade in the West of England Premier League Women’s Premier Division.

Devizes lead the table by five points from second-placed Bath, who have won all of their games but have played two matches fewer than the Wiltshire side.