Potterne delivered 1st Class display by Bedminster

The postage stamp ground of Potterne played host to Bedminster and it was the visitors who went away with a resounding 125 run win, with all but one of their batsman getting into double figures. The ground is renowned for it size and this was evident as the umpires appeared to be conducting their duties at square leg on the boundary together with the fielding circles just a few feet inside, on one side of the pitch.

Having lost the toss and being asked to bat Bedminster opening pair of George Drissell and Miles Hammond went to 91 before Drissell (30) was bowled by Yuvraj Odedra. It was like seeing double as left handed Garreth Elphick also wearing number 12 joined Hammond. This was resolved as shortly after completing his half century Hammond (52) faint edge down the leg side was excellently taken by keeper Thomas Alsop, standing up, off Joshua De Souza.

After adding a 54 run partnership with Rob Cunliffe, Elphick (33) was LBW as to was Sai Kamuni for a Golden Duck, as the ball lodged in his pad. Bedminster were now 161-4 in the 31st over. Mark Alleyne joined his former Gloucester team mate Cunliffe and the pair gracefully played the ball around the ground together with some lusty blows, including Alleyne's six over his own head into the sight screen. Cunliffe (38) was ran out by a direct hit from Josh Hodder.

At 209-5 with 10 overs to go the foundation was laid for some powerful hitting and Richard Sillars 18 (off 11) and Tom Pugsley 31 (15 balls) duels obliged before both were dismissed by Basil Akram with catches by Oliver Jackson and Neil Clark respectively. George Russell (16 not out) also joined in on the action as together with Alleyne 74 not out resulted in Bedminster posting 324-7.

Potterne's Akram edged to Alleyne at second slip off Jack Gibbs in the second over, whereas his fellow opener Alsop was finding the boundaries with ease. With the score on 62 in the 14th over Alsop (37) was dismissed by James Carter as five wickets fell for only 26 runs in 10 overs. Carters magical 10 over spell for only 18 runs and 3 wickets had slowed up the home side.

It looked like Potterne had decided to stop chasing the win and instead set about getting batting points. Sahan Wijerathne and Andrew Woodward 48 run partnership ensured the first batting point was reached before Woodward (15) was well caught by Elphick diving low down to his right behind the stumps off the returning Gibbs. Jackson (1) became Gibbs's (10-1-42-3) third and final victim. They say things come in threes and this was certainly trues as Sillars returned for a third spell having Wijerathne caught on the 3rd man boundary by Alleyne for his third catch off the afternoon.

Josh Hodder who had been promoted from the two's batted well for his 22 not out but could only watch as Cunliffe took the easy catch to remove Jake Roberts (9) off Alleyne (9.3-1-38-3) and Potterne fell one short of another batting point on 199.

The fourth win on the bounce for Bedminster and other results that day mean Bedminster are now out of the bottom two relegation places and only 15 points behind third place Downend who they host next Saturday.