4:47pm Wednesday 11th August 2010
THORNBURY endured a difficult weekend as their promotion hopes were dealt a blow before they lost the Bristol & District 20-over knockout final.
They went down by 113 runs in a high-scoring contest on Saturday to Westbury & District, who replaced them in the second promotion spot as Thornbury moved down to fourth in WEPL Premier Two.
Westbury hit a mammoth 380-3 off 50 overs with Steve Ford scoring 138 and Joe Breet finishing unbeaten on 108.
Thornbury’s uphill task became an impossible one when three of their top four batsmen went for ducks, but Kanishka Edirisuriya hit an unbeaten 137 as they finished on 267-8.
He found support from Juvaunie Gayle (31) and Karl Hurkett, who struck 40 off 38 balls.
Thornbury then lost by 25 runs to Bedminster, who also beat them in the 2008 20-over final.
Bristol & Somerset leaders Bedminster made 186 despite a hat-trick from Thornbury’s Ian Blackwell (3-23), and Greg Stephens picking up 3-27.
Juvaunie Gayle struck 59 in Thornbury’s reply and Nick Stovold hit 30, but they finished short on 161-9.
Thornbury are at home to fifth-placed Chippenham on Saturday.
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