Bristol and District League Senior Division

Old Down 1sts v Hanham

A VERY blustery afternoon greeted Hanham, as they took the field on a dry pitch that retained its character throughout. Old Down’s Jordan Rouse and George Williams worked hard with the bat to master conditions that offered variable bounce.

Williams looked set, but was nipped out for a good 29 that included six fours. Rouse grafted on to accumulate 83 hard earned runs (12 boundaries), but lost concentration near his ton.

At the other end, Mike Rowen offered his own brand of aggressive stroke play in which six sixes and 14 fours helped him to a superb 125 not out, in an Old Down total of 307-5. Hanham’s bowlers rarely looked convincing, though K. Patel took two for an expensive 99 runs.

Hanham’s openers started confidently, though once Jackson (14) went, wickets dribbled away at his end.

Only J. Skinner with a classy 41 offered much resistance, but once he was dismissed the end was writ large. Greg Welsher was hit powerfully by the opener towards the square leg boundary and an astonished crowd witnessed the catch of the season, which turned the game.

Chris Rovery sprinted 20 metres and dived full-length at speed, before catching one-handed, only inches from the ground. Boffin (15), Stone (12) and Padget (11) offered only token resistance. For Old Down, Dinely and Jones took one wicket each, but Raj Verma’s varied spin baffled 3-36, before Greg Welsher’s fine rearguard mopped up the tail with 4-13, rushing Hanham out for a slim 123, as Old Down enjoyed a satisfying home win.

Cleeve 2nds v Old Down

Cleeve’s batsmen plundered a weakened Old Down bowling attack which could do little to trouble their opponents who scored steadily, reaching a worthy 272-3. John Mance and brother Joe got 29 and 24 respectively, but it was J. Elswood’s 19 boundaries that took him to 118 with some help from M. Jones (40). Old Down’s only wicket takers were fourteen year old Josh Little, with 1-23 and twelve year old debutante, Lewis Holford, with a creditable 2-16.

Old Down’s reply centred around the efforts of James Thomas, whose 61 included 9 fours. Phil Williams was disappointingly run out for 25, while Tom Pullin chipped in with 29. Stuart Bushell nudged 19, but the visitors could only muster 166 all out. Cleeve’s S. Barnes (2-45), J. Parsons (3 -36) and M. Smith (3-39) were the architects of their sides’ final glories, as Cleeve finished convincing winners.