Batting blitz bags Weston huge win

Weston 1 XI kept their title hopes alive going into the final week of the cricket season with a crushing victory over already relegated Downend.

Having lost the toss and been asked to bat, Edd Brown and Gary Morgan strode to the crease, some initial scratchiness covering the run fest that was set to dominate the Weston innings.

It was 48 for the first wicket when Morgan shouldered arms, but in-coming Rob Holman was content to let Brown do all the work, coupled with a large number of extras. Holman was caught trying to find the boundary, and when Robin D'Souza followed just two balls later to a once-in-a-lifetime catch the Weston innings could well have crumbled.

Despite some early lbw shouts against John Williams, he and Brown began to find the boundary with increasing frequency as Brown progressed towards his fourth half century of the season. The short boundaries certainly helped as the runs ticked over, and soon Brown was close to his century.

A century partnership then saw the demise of Williams, just short of his half century, and despite already having a good total with 10 overs to go, David Stiff entered the fray, also working on the basis that actual running was not needed and proceeded to thump the ball to all areas, including the neighbouring church.

Brown logged his first ever Premier Division century in style, and relaxed following Stiff's demolition of all the bowlers.

Stiff took just 22 balls to register his half century, but Brown was not to be outdone and brought up his 150 with the last ball of the 52 over, having put on over 100 runs with Stiff, the Weston total was a massive 324 for 4, and Williams decided to declare.

The Downend response was not without its own drama, as despite his batting heroics Stiff struggled with his line and length. Thankfully at the other end D'Souza kept his head, and in a dream over removed batsmen 2, 3 and 4 to leave Downend on 29 for 3.

Matt Jackson then made his way to the middle, and attempted to emulate the big hitting of Brown and Stiff, and momentarily there was a bright spot for Downend, but his soft dismissal signalled the proverbial end for Downend, as despite resistance from captain Mike Ponterc who made 61, had it not been for the 40 extras gifted by the Weston bowlers, the Downend total would have looked a lot less respectable than the 170 they were eventually bowled out for.

Matt Kearsey picked up three wickets, including that of Ponter, and Stiff pulled back some respectability, finishing with 3 wickets.

Sean Stringer also bowled well, finishing with 1-27, as Downend were bowled out with more than 10 overs to spare.

n Weston 2nd XI played hosts to Thornbury from South Gloucestershire, won the toss and elected to bat, with the opening pair of Will Whitell and Shabil Ahmed putting on 39 runs for the first wicket. Will Whitell produced his best batting of the season, scoring 11 boundaries in an excellent knock of 83 before he was caught and bowled by Blackwell.

Pete Lomax then rolled back the years with an entertaining cameo of 35 not out while Rob Scanlon was eventually bowled off the last ball of the innings for a top score of 93.

In reply to Weston's challenging total of 240, Thornbury's opening batsmen looked diffident and both fell to catches off the bowling of the inspired Tom Main.

At 35-3, Thornbury seemed unlikely to reach their target, even after their captain Oakey and wicketkeeper Reid put on a half-century partnership for the fourth wicket. Two more wickets fell for only one run and, at 86-6, the writing was on the wall. Weston's spinners Ashley Allen and Shabil Ahmed took seven wickets between them, the latter finishing with 4-24.

Thornbury 2nds were dismissed as early as the 34th over for a mere 123, leaving Weston to celebrate a victory by 117 runs. Brunel Ford man of the match was Will Whitell.

n Weston 3rds got back to winning ways with a thrilling victory against Bath Exiles, thanks to a superb all-round team performance.

With stand-in captain Tom Dancey losing the toss, Exiles had little hesitation in electing to bat on an excellent looking pitch. After a steady start Exiles' star man Dave Clarke came to the crease and proceeded to serve up a brutal display of batting, despatching balls into the rhyne and a number of adjacent houses in a fine 143 not out from just 113 deliveries. Despite being faced with such wrath, the weakened Falcons bowling attack kept plugging away but could not stop The Exiles piling up 232-5 from their 40 overs.

In reply, man in form Mark Bissex fell early for just eight, but a run-a-ball partnership between Mike Lee (54) and Matt Rihan (25) kept Weston up with the rate. Wilf Huxtable smashed a fierce 47 from just 39 balls and some further lusty blows from the injured Jalal Ahmed (13 from 9) really made it game on.

Lomax and Hawkins went quickly but Dancey, captaining a league side for the first time, remained steadfast. He found a useful ally in Ricky Bissex who, as usual, saved his best batting for the season's end. The pair put on the 23 required for the victory, Bissex with 17 from 11 balls and Dancey undefeated on 42.

Brunel Ford man of the match goes to Mike Lee for getting the innings off to a great start with his 50.

n After frantically negotiating a ground to play on, Weston 4ths arrived at Bristol to play Easton Cowboys.

The Cowboys won the toss and the already weakened Eaglets were promptly put in on a damp track.

Not long after they had been demolished for just 33, a total the Cowboys passed in just 8.5 overs.

The man of the match award went to Rhys Crocker for bowling a tight spell despite having nothing to defend.