The Bears succumbed to their first loss of the season at Goatacre in their third league match of the 2019 campaign by six wickets. Things appeared healthy at 45/0 with skipper Mark Gunning (29) and Bath Spa’s very own Joe De Souza (19) at the crease; the latter again looking solid as he hit ball after ball at fielders; something Goatacre’s extra cover fielder was more than happy to mention…….every ball!
However, following a middle overs collapses on a turning pitch which left the visitors reeling at 65/6, the Bears were grateful to the impressive George ‘My Boy’ Ellis for a very patient (25) and old Etonian Tom Harris (21); the pair adding a magnificent 57 runs for the seventh wicket, though the Bears’ final score of 146-8 still represented a below-par effort.
In response, the Bears knew they’d need early wickets, but neither the economical Ross Newman or Oxbridge wannabe Harris (4/42) had the luck they deserved. The returning Shreyas Malhotra (from his all-expenses paid trip to Bali) looked dangerous and was unlucky to have Goatacre’s danger man, Horton (70*, dropped when the game was still in the balance…….just! The fielding was again outstanding from every single player, however, special mention to our exceptional wicketkeeper who pulled off one of the greatest catches to be seen in many years. Diving at full length (to approx. 3rd slip) Vesey snatched a ball heading straight for Neman to eclipse the aforementioned ‘Champagne’ moment from the Churches game…….chin up!
In the end, the home side cruised to a thoroughly deserved victory, reaching their target of 146 in the 30th over.
