Saturday XI vs Beehive Southwick
Beehive 139-9 45 overs
Bears 143-2 24 overs
The Bears recorded a facile (Jay) victory over Beehive Southwick on Saturday to reignite their promotion push.
Backing up from the previous evening’s Somerset Cup match, the Bears turned in a slightly laboured effort in the field after the visitors had been put into bat, allowing Beehive to ultimately reach 139-9 after a sub-100 total had looked likely: an unbeaten 50 run ninth wicket partnership giving the score an air of respectability. Nonetheless, creditable bowling performances were turned in by Jay Morris (3-16), Paul Wood (3-27) and Ross Newman (1-9), with stand-in wicketkeeper, Ashwin Agrawal, substituting at late notice for the injured Sam Vesey, producing a polished display with the gloves.
Despite the late momentum swing in favour of Beehive, the target always appeared to be a modest one. And so it proved as dynamic duo Mark Gunning and Joe De Souza put together a 91 run opening partnership in short time before the skipper holed out to long on attempting to bring up in style what would have been a classy half century. Enter Ross Newman at three, who just picked up from where he left off the night before, ruthlessly dispatching anything over pitched, short or simply within his reach in plundering 41 from just 22 balls. And so despite the late loss of Joe for 39, the Bears cantered to their victory target inside 24 overs.
Another week off next weekend, before league action recommences on 15 June when the Bears entertain Warminster 2s at HQ.
Finally, with a heavy heart we bid farewell to undergraduates Tom Harris and Joe De Souza: the amiable simpletons that we have grown very fond of over the last couple of seasons. Both will hopefully return, but not until 2021 as they will be on year-long placements next season. We hope also to welcome back Ashwin in two years when he returns to the University of Bath following his third year placement.
Thanks also to our match day officials: Eddie Kane, Fi Isaacs and guest scorer, Di Harris (Tom’s long suffering mother).
