WEPL Bristol & North Somerset Division: Chipping Sodbury (163) beat Winterbourne (158) by five runs (From Gazette Series)

WEPL Bristol & North Somerset Division: Chipping Sodbury (163) beat Winterbourne (158) by five runs

4:48pm Wednesday 1st September 2010 in

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Chipping Sodbury finished the season on a positive note with a dramatic five-run victory over Winterbourne and were indebted to a magical knock from Andy Neal.

However, it was not enough to catch league leaders Bishopston so they had to settle for another second place finish.

Sodbury lost the toss and were asked to bat first in damp conditions.

The hosts slumped to 19-3 as skipper Jamie Rendall (4) and Ian Mills edged to Sam Bracey, who was standing up to Pete Edgcombe, and Harry Webb (10) was castled by Nick Crane.

Daniel Clark and Lee Walters dug in before Clark was caught by Jon Oakes off Edgcombe for 15 and when Craig Scully followed in the same over Sodbury were in deep trouble at 51-5.

However, Neal played one of the best counter attacking innings the Ridings had seen for a long time.

He played himself in before launching a sustained attack on the Winterbourne bowlers, smashing eight huge sixes in his 69 off just 44 balls.

He was well supported by Lee Walters, who scored a mature 31 as the pair shared a 53 run partnership before a stunning right-handed catch by Phil Purnell.

Two unnecessary run outs, including Neal himself, and a caught and bowled by Purnell saw Sodbury dismissed in the 34th over, giving Winterbourne 11 extra overs to reach their target. The visitors got off to a steady start but then Sodbury began to pick up regular wickets with Jamie Wakefield (3-50), Jay Penfold (1-20) and Daniel Clark (2-37) all chipping in to remove Sam Bracey (10), Steve Paul, James Williams, James Taverner and Oakes.

At 63-5 the game was finely balanced but two large partnerships swung the game back into Winterbourne’s favour.

Damian Lingard was caught behind with the score on 102 before Keith Ford and Phil Purnell and added 47 as Winterbourne were cruising with 15 to win and four wickets in hand.

However, Steve Clapp turned the game on its head with three quick wickets, removing Ford (8), Edgcombe (0) and Purnell (50).

Sodbury skipper Rendell then held his nerve to have final batsmen Rawlings caught in the deep to give Sodbury a thrilling victory.

Hambrook have been relegated into the Bristol and District Senior Division with Winterbourne finishing one place above them in ninth.

Bristol & North Somerset 2nd XI Division Winterbourne (181) lost to Chipping Sodbury (227-8) by 46 runs

Winterbourne failed to finish their season off with a win, going down to neighbours Chipping Sodbury.

Batting first, the visitors lost their openers Richard Bennett and Nick Wake for 11 apiece. Will Christofi (34), Matt Webb (41) and Nic Anderson (47) then made sure a respectable total was posted.

Jack Townsend also gave the innings some late impetus with 22 not out. Dave Andrews took 3-41, while Adam Moore and Matt Crane shared four wickets.

The hosts’ response was slow, their reply yielding 35 from the first 15 overs, as they struggled against tight bowling from Bradley Arkwright and skipper Adrian Forrester.

It was Nick Wake who removed both openers, Paul Dagger (19) and Mark Frost (48) with 83 on the board after over 36, soon to be followed by George Ford (4), bowled by Marcus Poole (2-32).

The same bowler also bowled Aftab Hamid for eight to leave the reply on 100-4 after 31 overs.

Despite 20 from ex-Sodbury player Paul Tovey, 24 from teenage keeper James Bracey and 16 from spinner Rich Foot, Winterbourne were always going to fall short.

Townsend took 2-19 and captain Forrester finished the game off, removing Andrews and Moore to end with 4-29 from 12.5 overs.

His side finished second in the league behind Bishopston with Winterbourne in fifth.