Simon “six appeal” Roche ton in vain, as 3rd XI lose their 100% record

Match Report by Andy Sheldrake

Bedminster third XI lost their 100% win record, losing a rain affected game to Winterbourne A XI by 31 runs at the Clanage.

On a typically English summer’s day with the wind howling and the threat of heavy showers, Skipper Harry Pleass won the toss and put Winterbourne into bat. Before a ball was bowled, we were off for rain, a sign of things to come.

Shellers and Peacock opened the bowling and Winterbourne’s opening batsmen must have thought it was a T20 game taking the attack to the bowlers with some big hits.The bowlers found their rhythm and with the score on 34 Shellers got the breakthrough, with one that went like a boomerang (ok batsman missed a straight one). Bailey then got in on the act claiming another wicket, before Shellers took one with a catch that gave Pleass too much time to think before he eventually took it with aplomb. The first twenty overs featured some superb fielding, with Jack 'the whippet' Filer running everywhere closely followed by Shellers as a backup, however a special mention goes to Jon 'silvers' Jones who was throwing himself everywhere with nothing getting past him. We were all glad his leg never fell off though.

The third XI were in a good position at drinks having contained Winterbourne to less than 4 runs an over. But with showers around and having to stop and start a few times, Winterbourne put on a fantastic partnership of over 150 for the fifth wicket. Aided by some poor bowling, Bourne finished their innings on 276-5 from 40 overs, with opener Kay hitting 115 not out and Hamid ,who was eventually run out, with 97 off 69 balls.

After tea, with the sun shining Silvers and Six Bomb Roche strode out confidently, but disaster struck when Cowan bowled Silvers third ball, with one that darted back a long way in as Silvers shouldered arms (he was probably thinking of Love saves the Day next week).
Cunliffe Jnr strode out at number 3, needing some time at the crease. Cunliffe started slowly but then seemed to be finding form as he went on to play some attractive shots. With the ferocious Roche at the other end, playing like a man who was going out for a curry later, attacking the bowlers with boundary after boundary, the pair took the team to drinks one wicket down.

After drinks Roche brought up his 50 with another boundary, and then continued his uncharacteristic aggression, with Cunliffe at the other end playing a good supporting role. The hundred partnership was brought up with the third’s looking to chase the total down despite a demanding required run rate. Looking to up the rate, Cunliffe was caught for a very good 38, and Naz walked to the crease. Meanwhile, Roche started to spank the ball to all corners with a 6 here and a 6 there during a great display of batting. Naz started off slowly but, once he got in the groove, he opened his shoulders hitting two fours and a six before being bowled for a good 33. Yes Pleass the skipper was next in, as Roche continued to rain boundaries on the poor unsuspecting bowlers, bringing up a well-deserved 100. He possibly had it a few overs earlier but the scorers were not paying attention. With the target in sight Roche was finally bowled for 125, a superb knock from the newly nicknamed ' Six Bomb' who has masses of six appeal.

The wicket brought Lewis Shean, who kept extremely well in first innings, to the wicket. At the other end Pleass continued to hit sixes for the team, however a mix up occurred when Pleass tried to actually run one and seemed to have forgotten what to do as he was run out. In the matches final over, with the game all but finished, Drissell was stumped going for a big one, before Peacock repeated the trick second ball after having smashed his first for four. The innings ended with the third XI 31 runs short. A great effort and game to play in.

Despite the loss, Bedminster remain in second position in the league, as no team have remained unbeaten. The third XI will be back in action next Saturday away to Pak Bristolians 2nd XI.

See the match scorecard on play cricket.