A weekend round-up by Hampset Cricket Club – Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July.
There was disappointment last weekend (5th and 6th July) for Hampset Cricket Club’s seconds, thirds and Sunday side
Hampset 2nd XI v Carsons & Mangotsfield 1st XI
Hampset lost by 49 runs when they played Carsons & Mangotsfield in Bristol & District Cricket Association Division Seven East last Saturday (5th July).
The day started with rain across Bloomfield Rise, and it was apparent that the scheduled 1pm start time would be missed.
The covers were on and the players were waiting for a break in the rain to attempt to get a full game of cricket in. The captains agreed to reduce the fixture to 20 overs per side.
Hampset skipper Kit Pearson won the toss, electing to bowl first if and when the covers could come off. The break in the weather came – and at 2.45pm the players walked out onto an overcast and breezy pitch for a Twenty20 game.
Hampset made two early breakthroughs, with Harry Hall and Pearson (2-40) each taking a wicket.
This brought the opposition numbers three and four to the crease, and what followed was a destructive partnership that saw Carsons & Mangotsfield accelerate.
They were 64-2 at the halfway stage but motored to a score of 157-4 by the end of their innings. That looked like a very good total on a pitch that, despite the conditions, was relatively flat with an even bounce.
Hampset knew they would have to bat very well to chase down such a big score.
Wickets fell at regular intervals and Hampset were bowled out off the final delivery for 108.
Henry Bolton (30) and Gary Peters (31) batted nicely – but they were the only Hampset players to score more than 10.
The 2nd XI are back on the road on Saturday 12th July, at Stapleton 3rd XI, knowing that results need to change soon if they are to have any hope of staying in the division.
Hampset 3rd XI v Bristol Aces 2nd XI
Hampset 3rd XI were beaten by 74 runs when they faced the Aces at a wet and windy Odd Down Sports Ground in Bristol & District Cricket Association Division Nine East last Saturday (5th July).
The start was marginally delayed by rain, and two balls into the second over the heavens opened again. However, bowler Benji Ferguson continued until the end of the over.
A significant rain break then ensued, turning the match into a 30-overs-per-side affair.
There was still lots of surface water on the outfield when the players went back out and the ball got very soft very quickly.
Despite this, Joe Hall (3-26) picked up two caught and bowled, and Ferguson bowled fantastically for no reward but going for just 10 runs off his four overs which included two maidens.
Aces’ number four set about smashing his third ton in four innings, although Hampset’s failure to hold catches let him off the hook several times. He was eventually undone by Charlie Dolman (2-69).
Hampset continued to pick up wickets, with James Clark (2-28), Jack Hughes (1-42) and Andy van Roy (1-9) chipping in, with Hall taking his third scalp. Shan Mahar turned his arm over without success (0-33) and the Aces’ innings ended at 227-9.
Hampset’s opening partnership of Chris Kindon (26) and Jack Hughes (16) started cautiously in reply. A three in the second over signalled intent.
Hughes set about upping the rate, only to fall caught and bowled when chasing a wide one.
Sam Taylor-Weeks entered the fray – and he and Kindon saw off the remaining overs from the openers without issue to get a look at the change bowlers.
They were much easier to face and Taylor-Weeks set about building his innings.
But Kindon called for a quick single and was run out.
Dolman (30) joined Taylor-Weeks and the pair batted beautifully as a partnership, the latter reaching a deserved maiden senior 50 for the club before falling to a good ball.
Van Roy (5 not out) joined Dolman and they marshalled Hampset to 150 and another batting point. Then Dolman was run out backing up off the last ball of the match.
Hampset finished on 153-4. It was a fine team effort in difficult conditions, especially when bowling, with green shoots showing through for the future of the club.
Leema 2nd XI v Hampset Sunday XI
Hampset lost by four wickets when they took on Leema 2nd XI in Barrow Gurney in North Somerset Cricket League Sunday Conference Division Three last Sunday (6th July).
The visitors were asked to bat. And following their capitulation at Clevedon the week before, the team’s main aim was to post a defendable total.
The Leema attack started well, Saf Mahar being bowled with a beauty, and Oscar Costello was skilfully set up by the home skipper.
This brought Charlie Dolman (38) and Wishal Henry (22) to the crease, and the pair were able to fend off the opening bowlers before rebuilding Hampset’s innings.
A brief interruption to the Hampset recovery came when Henry was bowled around his legs by a double bouncer. But Dolman, now supported by Chris Kindon, was able to take Hampset to the drinks break at 84-3.
Dolman eventually fell for a well-made 38. This brought Sam Kindon to the crease, and he and his father put together an important partnership of 85 runs, both playing some excellent strokes. Kindon junior eventually departed for 40.
Hampset then collapsed spectacularly, with senior tail-enders Jack Hughes, Steve Aust and Tom Marquiss all falling without troubling the scorers.
Despite this, Kindon senior secured maximum batting points for Hampset and reached his own half-century (56 not out).
With Leema needing 208 to win, Hampset were confident they could defend their score – despite fielding a changed attack.
Both Leema opening batsmen reached 50 and Hampset struggled to break partnerships until Hughes (2-39) and Marquiss (3-39), bowling in tandem, made some important breakthroughs.
However, the chance of victory was slipping away from Hampset. And when a hard fall left them with only 10 men in the field, it seemed as though everything was against them.
With many bowling options already exhausted, the ball was thrown to an eager Mahar. An incredible effort from the seam bowler meant his four overs went for just eight runs. But a scampered leg bye brought up Leema’s winning run from the final ball of the game.
This was a very strong effort from the young Hampset side, whose man of the match was Mahar for a tight spell under vast pressure.
