3rd XI
Matches
Sat 29 Jul 2017  ·  Sixth Division
Bedminster Cricket Club
3rd XI
129/1
247
Pak Bristolians CC - 2nd XI
Thirds dominate rain affected contest to climb to second in the league

Thirds dominate rain affected contest to climb to second in the league

Simon Roche2 Aug 2017 - 20:48
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Jon Jones 74 not out in the rain guided Bedminster to 129 for 1 and crucially above the run rate as rain rules decided the game, after Adam Mawer and Bailey Peacock dismantled Pak Bristolians for 247.

Bedminster won a rain affected game by nine wickets, as they successfully surpassed their revised target of 118 in 21.3 overs, after having earlier bowled out Pak Bristolians for 247 on an overcast and later rainy day at the Clanage.

Before the Duckworth Lewis Stern method was developed, South Africa were famously knocked out of the 1992 world in a rain shortened match, after they had their target reduced from 22 from 13 balls to 22 from 1. Notably the rain rules for that tournament were devised in order to improve on the shortcomings of dividing runs by overs, as that method significantly favours the team batting second. For example a team who is 140-9 off 20 overs would be deemed winners, when the team batting first had scored 315 off 45 overs. It leads to the question, why over 25 years later and in the age of the smartphone the B&D League use this antiquated method?

Understanding these rules and the forecast for rain, Skipper Harry Pleass couldn’t believe his luck when Pak Bristolians’ Skipper won the toss and elected to bat on an overcast day. Bedminster led by their seamers Bailey Peacock and Adam Mawer then took advantage to bowl the visitors out for 247. Regular openers Peacock and Sheldrake took the new ball, but the first wicket to fall was a run out as a sharp piece of work from Ahsaan Butt in the covers caused a mix up between the openers. After an economical start from the seamers, off-spinner Shazil Butt was called into the attack but was quickly taken out, after the batsmen pounced on anything short and dispatched it to the short boundary. He was replaced by Joseph Shean, who immediately found movement and snatched the first wicket to fall to a bowler, as Sam hedges took a neat catch standing up.

Left arm seamer, Adam Mawer then came onto bowl to replace Andy Sheldrake who was unlucky not to get a wicket, with a couple of missed chances and a controversial ruling on a caught behind. Mawer proceeded to bowl impressively, utlising his height and left arm angle to make it awkward for the batsmen and leaving them unsure of what to play and leave, as he ripped through Pak Bristolians middle order, taking 3 wickets and only conceding 24 runs from his 9 overs. He was well supported by Ahsaan Butt who, bowling with the short boundary on the leg side, maintained a good line and length to restrict the batsmen’s scoring areas and was unlucky to only get the one wicket. Bailey Peacock returning to bowl at the death, deservedly picked up four wickets including a caught and bowled as Pak Bristolians were dismissed for 247.

In reply, Bedminster knew that rain was coming and that if play was to stop they would need to have a superior run rate to Pak Bristolians after 20 overs to win the match. Simon Roche was reunited with Jon Jones at the top of the order, as Lee Shorney was missing due to illness. Jon was straight into his rhythm hitting the innings first ball to the cover boundary for four. He took a further two boundaries off the over. Equally Roche got going in his own way too, as he faced the second over which went for 15, without a single run coming off the bat as extras immediately piled up whilst the opener blocked and left the ball. After the strong start, Jones and Roche settled into their usual contrasting partnership. They kept up with the rate as light rain started to fall. With it came a wicket as Roche, fell lbw for 22 in the 12th over. Cruel observers suggested this would boost the run rate. Shean came in at number three and denied Jones a certain boundary as he was struck at the non-strikers end by a powerful shot. That was the only mistake Shean made, as he played tidily to compile 21 not out, whilst Jones made 74 not out including 13 fours and two sixes as Bedminster reached the 20 over mark well ahead of the rate to deservedly claim victory on run rate. Fortunately the rain rules did not interfere with a just result on this occasion, however in a closer game that might not be the case.

Bedminster are now joint second in the table, but only a single point ahead of fourth. Next week’s match against Bath 4th XI, who are 30 points clear at the top, has the potential to be season defining.

See the scorecard on play cricket.

Match details

Match date

Sat 29 Jul 2017

Kickoff

13:30

Meet time

12:30

Competition

Sixth Division

League position

2
Bedminster CC - 3rd XI
7
Pak Bristolians CC - 2nd XI
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