Lansdown 2nd XI edged a Combe Park thriller against their Keynsham counterparts, winning by only three runs in Bristol & District Cricket Association Division One on Saturday 19th July.
Extras proved crucial as Lansdown 2nd XI took the honours against Keynsham 2nd XI on 19th July
The Down elected to bat and mustered 201-5 in their 40 overs.
Although the home side lost opener Sam Bowery for a third-ball duck, number one James Pitman proved their chief run-getter.
Pitman featured in a second-wicket stand with Harry Veal (14) that produced 63 runs, but was next man out to leave Lansdown 78-3.
That became 81-4 when Ollie Kohut was removed leg before by Oscar Hayes for 6.
Then captain Dan Veal and Sam Athay came together and added 77 for the fifth wicket. The partnership ended when Athay was caught for 31 from 53 deliveries – only four of his runs came from boundaries.
Veal finished unbeaten on 43 – from 79 balls and with three fours – and Matthew Thomas made 20 not out.
However, the third-biggest contribution came from extras, which gifted the Down 39 runs; 28 of them were the result of wides.
Hayes was the pick of the Keynsham attack, with 3-33 from seven overs.
Those 39 extras were to prove key to the outcome of the match, despite guests’ opener Ollie Bell sparkling with 86 – including three sixes and seven fours – from 101 balls.
Keynsham were going well at 52 without loss but fell to 90-3. Then Bell and Ollie Hemmings (16) put on 62 for the fourth wicket. And the guests were on course for victory when they found themselves 187-5.
But then it all went wrong for Keynsham, who were agonisingly short at 198-9 from 40 overs at stumps, number three Ian Fiebelkorn (28) the only batter to offer Bell serious support.
The Down’s George Wood claimed 3-44 off six overs and Thomas snared 2-25 from eight far more economic overs. There were also two wickets for Vijay Krishna.
Lansdown’s next Division One match will see them visit table-topping Bath 3rd XI on Saturday 26th July.
