Lansdown cricketers go third in league by routing Golden Hill

Lansdown Cricket Club climbed into third place in West of England Premier League Premier Two Bristol/Somerset by beating hosts Golden Hill on Saturday 5th July.

Lansdown leapfrogged hosts Golden Hill in the table by beating the Bristol side by 84 runs

North Bristol side Golden Hill began the match in third spot but ended up fifth after Lansdown recovered from a terrible start to cruise to an 84-run success that put an end to a run of two consecutive losses.

Lansdown made 255 all out in 49.5 overs after being inserted. But they were in dire straits when the departures of George Scott, Praneel Choughule and skipper Jordan Smith left them 20-3.

However, Marc Lezar and Luke Charlesworth turned around the innings with a fourth-wicket stand that yielded 90 runs in 14 overs.

The visitors were 110-4 from 18.1 overs when Charlesworth was bowled for 26. Imraan Manack took the wicket, on his way to 3-36 off 10 overs.

Lezar fell nine runs later, having made 48 from 50 balls. His innings featured two sixes and seven fours.

Noah Davies was joined by Sam Pearce and they added 82 for the sixth wicket in 18 overs.

The duo were parted when Pearce offered a return catch to Daaryoush Ahmed, who claimed 4-56 from 10 overs. Pearce cracked a six and five fours on his way to 59 from 66 deliveries.

However, 201-6 became 201-7 when Daniel Lezar went for a golden duck.

With Davis crafting 63 – including a six and five boundaries – from 91 balls, Lansdown got back on track. Davis was last man out, caught by Matt Belbin off Charlie Allan.

Golden Hill also made a poor start to their innings, slipping to 8-2 in response. But Sam Brooks and skipper Ahmed – who was fresh from scoring an unbeaten 46 for Gloucestershire 2nd XI in a 2nd XI Twenty20 match – put on 52 for the third wicket. Ahmed was the man to go, hitting two sixes and four boundaries in his 36-ball 34.

It was soon 62-4 but wicket-keeper Brooks kept plugging away and his 40 from 72 balls meant the home team had 107 runs on the board when he was fifth out with 25.4 overs bowled.

Archie Newton, John Colley and Belbin each made 22 but Golden Hill were shot out for 171 off 39.3 overs, Josh Smith (3-29 off eight overs) and Pearce (3-30 from 7.3 overs) the best of the Lansdown bowlers.

Lansdown will entertain lowly Taunton at Combe Park this Saturday (12th July) in their next Premier Two Bristol/Somerset encounter.