BRISTOL’s players have had good reason to feel frustrated during the 2017 Church Times Cricket Cup: up until Monday, all their scheduled group matches had been called off owing to inclement weather or opposing sides’ being unable to field enough players.
Thankfully, Monday’s match against Salisbury went ahead. Bristol won the toss and opted to bowl, and Walton wasted no time, getting Windsor caught behind early on. Bradbury soon got into his stride at the crease, however, and some accomplished drives and cuts took him to 51.
By the time that drinks were served, Salisbury were on 69-2 from the first 20 overs. Wickets started to fall more rapidly from then on, however, and Salisbury were dismissed for 123 in their 35th and final over.
Bristol’s reply started falteringly when Seymour had Walton LBW in the third over. From 9-1 Michael Walker (52 n.o.) and skipper Sam Rylands (61 n.o.), however, saw the away team home comfortably to a nine-wicket victory.
On Monday, London played Southwark at Kempton Park Cricket Club under cloudy skies. Somewhat surprisingly, given the very green strip, Southwark elected to bat after winning the toss.
Southwark started slowly but steadily, before Aagaard was caught behind by Downes off Lee. Sewell was then bowled by Lee for 8 and Southwark were in some difficulty at 23-2. There then followed a 50 partnership between Bagnall and Stainer, who made 55, before a late flurry of wickets saw Southwark close on 127-6.
In reply, London struggled to score off Prior, one of the cup’s outstanding bowlers of recent years. Beeby tried his luck against Sewell, bowling at the other end, only to be caught mid off. Prior then took Moffatt LBW for 10, before inducing Allerton into a risky single, which, after a close call and a brief chat between the umpires, saw him depart for 15.
Prior continued a strong run of bowling, having Rose brilliantly caught by Stainer at leg slip. In the next over, Daley bowled Bunyan out, putting London in trouble at 54-5.
But with the end of Prior’s spell, the game changed. Lee and Child quietened things down and then batted sensibly to see London home, with Lee out just before the end for 42.
Norwich/Ely faced Peterborough on Monday at Christ’s College cricket ground in Cambridge. Peterborough batted first and faced some impressive bowling from Heywood and Carpon, who removed the first two batsmen cheaply.
Taylor and Lloyd, however, went on to build a strong partnership (44 and 49 n.o. respectively), taking their side to a respectable 131 for 4 from 30 overs.
In reply, Norwich made a solid start through Midgley and Tyler, followed by Heywood who hit numerous boundaries. Reith and Davies shone among Peterborough’s bowlers, taking two wickets each.
Norwich reached the target of 132 comfortably, for five wickets and 27 overs. Midgley and Heywood made 40 each.
Manchester was scheduled to play Carlisle on Thursday of last week, but the match was rained off. A match between Manchester and Lichfield was due to take place on Monday, but the former could not raise a side.
A scheduled match between Lichfield and Leeds did not go ahead either. Nor did Lincoln play Peterborough, owing to bad weather.
Salisbury 123 all out from 34.2 overs (Bradbury 51, Jack 15, Rimmer 18; Rylands 2 for 15, Walton 1 for 13, Watson 5 for 25, Walker 1 for 14, Weithers 1 for 6). Bristol 124 for 1 from 23.4 overs (Walker 52 n.o., Rylands 61 n.o.; Seymour 1 for 37, Windsor 0 for 20). Bristol won by nine wickets.
Southwark 127 for 7 from 35 overs (Stainer 55, Bagnall 24; Lee 2 for 13, Davison 2 for 7). London 130 for 6 from 21 overs (Lee 42, Child 22 n.o.; Prior 2 for 15, Daley 1 for 35). London won by one wicket.
Peterborough 131 for 4 from 30 overs (Taylor 44, Lloyd 49 n.o.) Norwich/Ely 132 for 5 from 27 overs (Midgley 40, Heywood 40). Norwich/Ely won by five wickets.