Hammond Hundred gives Bristol the Blues

Bedminster made the short trip up the hill to their closest rivals Bristol with both teams knowing a win was vital to help maintain their WEPL Prem 1 status in the closest the league has been for many years.

Having won the toss Bristol chose to bat and lost James Bracey first ball as he hit Richard Sillars straight into the hands of Joe Millard. Vir Lakhani (4) was bowled shortly afterwards by Sam Knapp with the score on 17 inside four overs. Bristols recovered to 93 before losing Paul Redwood (36) as he to was bowled, this time by Miles Hammond just three balls after the drinks break. Louie Shaw joined Rishi Panchal and the running between the wickets excelerated the Bristol score to 183 and Bedminster started to look ragged in the field, until Sillars finally had Panchal caught by Joe Millard, having previously been dropped twice, for 73.

Lewis Mason redeemed himself for his previous drops as he caught one of his county coaches Ralph Hardwick (5) despite keeper Alfie Jacques trying his best to put him off. Tom Pugsley claimed the scalp of Bristol skipper William Rudge (9) as he was caught by the swooping swallow commonly known as George Russell, coming in off the boundary. Sillars (10-0-47-4) picked up his fourth and final wicket as Rob Cunliffe ran as far as the veteran could manage and took a vital catch over his shoulder to dismiss Louie Shaw for a run a ball 63.

In the final over Tom Pugsley (6-0-43-3) picked up a couple more wickets as Matt Brewer (8) was caught by Garreth Elphick and bowled Dan Jones for a Golden Duck as Bristol finished on 243-9.

In reply Bedminsters left handed combination of Hammond and Elphick started with 14 runs coming off the first two overs, before Bristol contained the run rate and picked up the wicket with Elphick (10) nicking Hardwick to Bracey. Cunliffe joined Hammond who continued to find the boundary until Cunliffe was bowled by Dan Jones also for 10. Pugsley (5) was caught by Shaw from Pollard and Bedminster were now 87-3 off 22 overs.

Sai Kamuni and Hammond then put on a match changing 125 run partnership before Hammond was out caught by Lakhani, as Hardwick returned for his second spell, after hitting 114 (116 balls including 10 fours and 3 sixes), his maiden century for the club. Sillars (9) also fell into the hands off Lakhani this time from Pollard. With five overs remaining Bedminster needed only 20 runs with five wickets in hand. Bristol as ever continued to fight and with the derby rivalry at stake the next over Rudge had Russell trapped LBW, bringing Millard to the crease. Kamuni took control and on the first ball off the final over hit a four, scooping Rudge and nine runs came from the over.

Four were needed from the last over and it was Pollard given the responsibility with Kamuni facing. A dot was followed by a single leaving Millard (3) on strike but he failed to add to the score as he was bowled. Sam Knapp came to the crease with two balls to come as Kamuni 82 not out (off 86 balls) could only watch from the nob strikers end. A big swish from Knapp failed to connect with the ball. However the final ball went racing to the boundary as Bedminster won by 3 wickets and done the WEPL Prem 1 double over their neighbours.

The win and other results moved Bedminster back to third, sixteen points from the final relegation spot, now held by Bridgwater. In the final league game Bedminster host Frocester who are in fourth place, only one point behind them. The snakes and ladders season mean that still only Bath and Clevedon are safe whilst Corsham are relegated.