Bedminster's hope of first WEPL Prem 1 win destroyed by Masoor Khan.

With Clevedon having been blown away by Bristol the previous week Bedminster might have been confident of picking up their first win in the top flight off the West of England Premier League.

Having won the toss Clevedon bravely choose to bat despite being bowled out for only 97 the following week. Bedminsters opening attack of Richard Sillars and birthday boy Jack Gibbs restricting Masoor Khan and Max Curtis to only 25 runs from the first ten overs. With Clevedon picking up in confidence and clever running between the wickets they moved to 84, in the over before the drinks break, Curtis was trapped LBW by George Drissell. Immediately after the break Drissell (10-0-50-2) picked up his second as Sillars caught Marc Lezar for 2.

This brought Clevedon skipper Jacob Lintott to the crease and he showed no hesitation in attacking with a reverse hit first ball and this continued playing scoops, reverse shots with ease throughout his majestic innings as he gave his opposite number, the athletic James Carter plenty to do at third man. Lintott raced passed his partner and reached his 50 off only 39 balls in the 36th before Khan also brought up his calmer half century the next over with a near 50% strike rate. Sai Kumani (5-0-61-0) and Mark Alleyne (10-0-63-0) felt the full force of the attack as Clevedon brought up their bicentury in the 41st over. The reintroduction of Gibbs made the crucial breakthrough, breaking the 147 run partnership, as Lintott (87 off 60 balls inc 13 fours) was caught by keeper Garreth Elphick with the score on 234 and just over six overs to go. Clevedon reshuffled their batting to put in their big hitters but with Bedminsters opening attack back they failed to get going as Solomons (8) was caught by Elphick off Sillars (10-3-34-1) and Connor Crane (5) returning to the first team was frustrated at being run out by Elphick as Khan looked to get more of the strike. Khan brought up his century off 135 balls , to the delight of the balcony, and carried his bat for 105 with Will Carpenter (7) caught by Sillars off Gibbs (10-2-43-2) on the final ball of the Clevedon inning which ended on 279-6.

Sai Kamuni (8) opened the Bedminster reply with his usual attacking flare but after hitting Matthew Carpenter for two boundaries was caught by Solomans on the last ball of the first over. After the next two overs being maidens Max Tryfonos showed uncharactristic behaviour and went for a quick single only to be run out for a duck, by a direct hit from Lintott. Drissell, who had put in a very impressive performance in the week with both bat and ball for Gloucester seconds was joined by Elphick. The pair put on 53 before Elphick (19) was LBW by Lintott and Bedminster were now 61-3 off 18 overs. A distracted Sillars (4) was bowled by Masoor Khan and Drissell became his next victim when he was well caught by Jake Rowe low down at point for 37.

Former Gloucester pair Mark Alleyne and Rob Cunliffe showed experience amid the turmoil and stroked the ball around the dial hill ground, with Alleyne hitting some lovely straight hits including a maximum back over Khan's head. The 59 run partnership was gathering momentum until Matthew Carpenter, who had returned at the orphanage end, bowled Cunliffe (27). A further reintroduction this time Andy Solomons brought further misery to Bedminster as Alleyne (37) was caught by M Khan and Tom Pugsley (1) fell LBW next ball with the score on 146-8 Bedminster were now looking for points rather than the win. With George Russell (2) caught by Adeel Khan off Man of the Match Masoor Khan (9-1-31-3) 2 runs were needed for the same number of batting points. Carter hit a couple of lusty blows to bring up the 150 before Solomons (5.5-0-25-3) wrapped up the the Bedminster innings (159ao) bowling him in the 40th over. Jack Gibbs (1) was the last man standing as an elated Clevedon left the field and with other results that day it meant they were back in second place with Bedminster still rooted to the bottom.

Next week Bedminster host Corsham who are also struggling this season but have at least one win in the league. In between this league fixture on Wednesday Bedminster will have another tough game as they play Lansdown in the second round of the Bristol & District 20 over Knock-Out Cup.