Corsham Crushed by Bedminster Batting Masterclass

Bedminster travelled to bottom of the table Corsham hoping to get back to winning ways following their loss to Clevedon the week before. In the previous encounter Corsham were the victors by 5 runs as Bedminster collapsed from a winning position.

Having loss the toss Bedminster skipper James Carter was happy the hosts chose to bat first. The first ball of the game Steve Bullen charged Richard Sillars only to have a leg side glance taken by keeper Alfie Jaques. Young Charley Reed found the pace of Sillars and Jack Gibbs to his liking racing to 27 (off 26 balls) before he fell victim to the same combination as his opening partner. Romano Esau joined his skipper Ashur Morrison and the pair were lucky to survive several appeals by the visitors and also made the most of their chances. Morrison brought up his half century and the drinks break, Corsham were now 115-2 at 25 overs.

Esau, dropped on 9, brought up his half century in the 35th over but three balls later it was Carter who eventually made the crucial breakthrough having his fellow skipper Morrison (70) caught by Garreth Elphick at first slip to end the impressive 124 run partnership, the hosts now on 160. Vibhor Yadav joined Esau who was now taking the lead role and a particular liking to Miles Hammond, including three sixes in one over then his century (from 122 balls) with a four in the next over.

Sillars returned and in his second over of this spell had Yadav was caught on the boundary by Hammond for 24, the players crossing with the ball in the air. Esau got a single but could then only watch as Sillars cleaned bowled Sam Collier and had Will Wales nicking to Jaques for golden ducks. James Arney denied Sillars (9-1-45-5) his hat-trick ball in the triple wicket 48th over. Bedminster failed to take any more wickets as Corsham finished on 261-6 with Esau and Arney 117 and 7 not out respectively.

Due to George Drissell getting injured in his debut for Gloucester 1st XI, Bedminster unusually opened with the left hand pairing of Hammond and Elphick and got of to a terrific start as 13 runs game of the first Yadav over. Arney was a little more economical and after switching to over the wicket yorked Elphick (9). Miles Hammond, who was looking in destructive form with 31 off 32 balls, became Arney's second victim, again bowled, but this time the Corsham celebration was a bit more muted. The next over King won the battled of the Joes as he had Millard (1) stumped by Reed, Bedminster now 62-3 in the eleventh over.

Sai Kamuni joined Rob Cunliffe and a batting masterclass followed as stroke play was matched only by power hitting. Kamuni and Cunliffe bringing up their half centuries off 52 and 68 balls respectively. With 250 and just under 5 overs to go Cunliffe was caught by Reed off Morrison three short of his deserved century, the 188 partnership surpassing their 119 run stand against Bristol earlier in the season. Kamuni, struggling with cramp in his hamstring, battled on to get his century off 104 balls (including 11 fours and 2 sixes). Corshams continual chirping in the field reminded the Bedminster batsmen off their collapse in the previous encounter and when Yadav had Sillars (0) caught by Wales with four runs needed their spirits were again lifted.

Kamuni brought the game level but could not finished the job when he was bowled by Morrison for 106. Unfortunately a game dominated by batsmen was finished by a wide the vey next ball as Bedminster reached their 262 target also for the loss of six wickets. Following other results Bedminster move up to third place whereas Corsham are almost certainly relegated with only three games to go.

Next week Bedminster host top of the table and likely WEPL Prem 1 winners Bath, who have only lost one game this season.