Bedminster Cricket Club Sponsored By: Club Info Statistics Members Misc Failand & Portbury 2nd XI vs. Bedminster 2nd XI Played at Horserace Lane on Saturday 4th June 2005 The grey clouds blew away and the showers ceased as Bedminster made the short trip to Horserace Lane to take on local rivals Failand & Portbury. The day began with both teams neck and neck in the table, having lost one apiece. Heavy showers had left the pitch damp and it was with a great sigh of relief that MacBean won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the home side to bat first. After his first ball loosener disappeared for 4, Chris Bailey located a fuller length to induce opener Prendergast to edge one through to gully, Harrison falling away to his left to claim the catch. One begat two as Moore struck in his next over, Smith pulling straight down Bailey’s throat at fine leg. Harrison and Bailey combined again to good effect to remove opposing skipper Humphries without scoring and the hosts were in deep trouble at 12-3. Failand then mounted something of a recovery as Pursey and Parfitt moved the score on to 46 in the 19th over. Moore then produced a leg stump yorker to remove Parfitt for 18. In Moore’s next over MacBean snaffled Khan at short leg for a duck. With Harrison holding two more catches in the gully, this time off the bowling of Nick Boxley and Craig White combining twice with MacBean the tail was shot away. Last man Mohammed Ahmed hit out lustily to take the hosts into three figures before Boxley induced him into offering a catch to backward point which George Brimble held comfortably. Bedminster reinforcing the age old adage that catches win matches with nine held in all. The Bedminster reply started in sparkling fashion with Craig White showing the virtue of a solid technique allied to a calm temperament. Terry Barnes at the other end played an unusually restrained innings, content to take the ball on the body to preserve his wicket. With the pitch still offering plenty of movement off a length, the Failand attack persisted in banging the ball in short. The pair added 60 in 15 overs to give Bedminster an ideal platform before Barnes chipped back to the bowler to depart for 15. White continued to pull and drive to good effect and found an able ally in Harrison who added some impetus to the victory march. With victory in sight White was out caught in the covers for an excellent 42 from 64 balls. Brimble then joined Harrison at the wicket and was unruffled despite the home attack bowling short and trying to intimidate him. Harrison finished proceedings with a carved four to third man, to give Bedminster victory by 8 wickets and a full bag of 26 points for the first time this season. Failand & Portbury 2nd XI: 103 all out (38.1 overs) Pursey 27 Boxley 7.1-2-25-3, Moore 12-2-41-3 Bedminster 2nd XI: 106-2 (24.1 overs) White 42 (64 balls, 5 × 4). Harrison 25* (19 balls, 3 × 4) Bedminster (26 points) beat Failand & Portbury (3) by 8 wickets