Timberscombe Cricket Club

North Herfordshire tourists Graveley, and former club of Timberscombe
Saturday Captain Paul Sparks, were the visitors for this friendly
fixture.

Invited to bat the tourists, slightly worse for wear from two days
enjoying West Somerset hospitality, set about setting their total.
Scoring at a brisk pace a big score seemed likely. At 20 overs the 
score had reached 117 for 3 with Captain Peter Bracey hitting the ball 
to all parts of the ground. The big hitting continued as Bracey moved
on to 85 from only 52 balls. The fall of his wicket tipped the balance 
of the innings as Gary Archer, who took 3 wickets, and Paul Keal and
Kev Godfrey, who took 2 each started to get back some control. The
visitors were finally all out for 187.

In reply the loss of early wickets put the home side under some 
pressure. Jason Abbott and Paul Sparks then came together to move
things forward. Their partnership of 100 put the home side on track.
When Abbott was out for 55 the innings was well placed. Sparks soon
followed for 33 and a fall of quick wickets brought Hannah Sparks and
Paul Keal together. When Sparks was out for 21 it was left to Keal 16
no and Mark Warwick to complete a 2 wicket win.

Timberscombe 188 for 8 beat Graveley 187 all out by 2 wickets.

The Select XI began their annual cricket weekend with a seven-run victory
over Timberscombe on Friday night.  The visitors were inserted, and with
Timberscombe players Matthew Bowden and James Ball both retiring at thirty
and Philip Milton striking a quickfire 28 the Select XI closed on 163-6,
Dave Cook being pick of the bowlers with 1-5 from his two overs, although
the highlight was some runs at last by skipper Will Wilson.

In reply the run rate was kept on a tight rein after Chris Powell
collected two victims in the first over, and despite thirties from Bruce
Lang and Jason Abbott and a late blitz in the dark from Nick Hill the
home side finished short on 156-5 after a good display in the field from
the Select XI.

Select XI 163-6 (M. Bowden 31 ret, J. Ball 30 ret, P. Milton 28, W.
Wilson 18)
TCC 156-5 (N. Hill 34*, J. Abbott 34 ret, B. Lang 31 ret)

Timberscombe were defeated by tourists Jesmond Jaguars on Sunday by five
wickets, in a game played in fine spirit throughout.

Timberscombe were put in to bat and were quickly in trouble, and despite
some lusty blows by Andrew Covey fell to 47 for 4 in the twelfth over.
However, this season’s leading run scorers Dan Bowditch and Jason Abbott
set about the bowling with vim and vigour, peppering the boundaries at
regular intervals, with one languid straight six from Bowditch a
highlight along with some of Abbott’s straight driving as both notched
up half-centuries.

The partnership had realised 167 runs when Bowditch was finally bowled
just short of a ton, and the innings finished fairly limply as
Timberscombe closed on 225 for 7, probably about twenty runs short of
par.  Pick of the bowlers was Eccles who used height and pace well to
end with 3 for 16.

In reply the visitors got off to a fine start, until a fine low catch by
Mark Bolton off the bowling of Sam Price saw then end of a good innings
by Ward at 70 for 1.  However another partnership between Lewis and
Mounsey flourished as loose bowling with punished accordingly, until
Bowditch was introduced to the attack and got two wickets in a two over
spell to get the innings back on track for Timberscombe.

However, further wickets for Charlie Tudball and Matthew Bowden were not
enough for the home side and Jesmond Jaguars crossed the finish line
with sixteen balls remaining.

TCC 225-7 (D Bowditch 96, J Abbott 67, Eccles 3-16)

Regular visitors Dartford returned to Timberscombe for this afternoon 
fixture.

Asked to bat Dartford overcame the initial loss of early wickets to 
post a respectable score of 156 for 8 from their 40 overs. N Wilson 
topped scored for the visitors with a well worked 66. Sam Price 
produced two impressive spells of bowling to return figures of 4 for 33 
from his 9 overs. Matt Bowden and Charlie Tudball both picked up two 
wickets a piece.

In reply the home side made a shaky start losing both openers by the 
time the score had moved to ten. Dave Cook and Paul Sparks then set 
about repairing the innings and when Cook was out for 23 the total had 
moved to 50. By the 30th over the score had moved to 99 for the loss of 
three more wickets. At this point Sparks senior was joined by his 
daughter Hannah. Together they managed to put on a partnership of 
nearly 60 to steer Timberscombe home in the last over. Paul Sparks 
ended on 66 and Hannah Sparks 21.

Timberscombe 157 for 6 beat Dartford 156 for 8 by 4 Wickets.

Timberscombe welcomed tourists Mount as they made their 25th visit to West Somerset.

The hosts invited the visitors to bat and the game was soon in it’s stride. runs and wickets came at a steady pace as Mount put together their total.  Skipper Sam Weller was the pick of the batting, an array of good shots all around the ground enabled him to reach a stylish 72. Steve Archer, with three wickets and Paul Sparks and Dave Cook with 2 a piece were the pick of the bowlers. The Mount innings closed on 176 for 9.

In reply openers Bruce Lang and Tom Sparks set about the chase. Lang fell for 20 as Sparks moved smoothly on to a hard hit 59 before being caught in the deep. It was finally left to Phil Milton (34) and Paul Sparks (21) to pass the total, securing a 5 Wicket victory with overs to spare. All in all an enjoyable Tuesday afternoon’s cricket.

Timberscombe emerged victorious against touring side Teston on Sunday by a
margin of 94 runs after a game played in excellent spirit throughout in
spite of the bitter conditions.

The home side batted first and despite a few scares Nick Hill and Steve
Archer got off to a solid start.  Once Archer found his timing he began
lashing the ball to the boundary, with one memorable six carrying well
into the field across the road at long-on, before offering a return
catch to the visiting skipper Warren.  This brought the prolific Paul
Sparks to the wicket, and he quickly set about the bowling in
partnership with Hill.  Having gone to 70 Hill was bowled by Wilson, and
after some flashing shots by the middle order the innings closed on an
excellent 254-5, Sparks finishing with a superb 78 not out.

In reply Dan Bowditch bowled well with no luck, as Teston got off to a
decent start before Russ Summersgill trapped Snaith in front of middle.
Summersgill quickly picked up another wicket well caught at mid on by
Alistair Lang, before Lang himself showed his golden arm with a wicket
first ball as a leg-side long hop was helped gently into the hands of
Jason Abbott at short fine leg.  Late arrival Tom Sparks then ran out
Wilson with a superb throw from deep cover, before picking up the wicket
of Bentwood thanks to a Phil Milton stumping.  The innings petered out  at 160-8 after what was a fine performance in the field with everyone

playing their part.

TCC: 254-5 (P. Sparks 78*, N. Hill 70, S. Archer 39)
Teston CC:  160-8 (S. Warren 35, C. Bentwood 29)

Timberscombe had a successful start to the season as the defeated Surrey
tourists South Park Manor by 87 runs in a thirty over a side friendly at
Minehead CC on Sunday.

   After winning the toss on a damp track Timberscombe batted first, with
   opener Joe Shooter scoring a quickfire 27 before being caught in the
   deep.  This brought Jason Abbott to the crease, and after a painful blow
   early on he proceeded to smash the ball around in partnership with first
   Paul Sparks then Paul Keal as the total began to mount up.  Abbott
   finally retired on 101 with 12 fours and 6 sixes, having been
   particularly severe square of the wicket.  After a late flurry of
   wickets the home innings closed on 224 for 8.

   In reply SPM began brightly, aided and abetted by some typical early
   season fielding as catches were dropped on several occasions, with Keal
   being particularly unfortunate.  It was not until the seventeenth over
   that a wicket fell as Kevin Godfrey bowled Hammersmith senior for 37.
   Ian Buchanan, who had regularly beaten the bat, then had Vince caught on
   the boundary by Will Giblett, and Godfrey struck again in his next over
   to reduce the visitors to 91 for 3.  A fine catch in the slips from
   Buchanan gave skipper Matt Bowden a wicket, before Giblett bowled
   Hammersmith junior in the final over as SPM fell well short on 137 for
   5, with Smith carrying his bat for 51 not out.

   TCC:  214-8 (Abbott 101 ret, Keal 30, Shooter 27, Sparks 25)
   South Park Manor:  137-5 (Smith 51*, Hammersmith snr 37)

Timberscombe overcame Exford by 136 runs on Sunday in a game played in good
spirit throughout.

   Timberscombe were inserted on Exford’s artificial wicket and after a
   quiet start lost two quick wickets to leave them 30-2.  A good cameo 17
   for Tom Sparks led on to a 99 partnership between Bruce Lang and Jason
   Abbott, with Lang eventually falling for 57, possibly affected by the
   shock of hitting two sixes in an over.  Abbott and Paul Sparks took the
   total onwards before Abbott was bowled for a typically hard-hit 65, with
   Timberscombe eventually closing their innings on an above par 244-7.
   Pick of the bowlers in what was a wholehearted effort in the field were
   A Bruce with 3-48 and J Williams with 3-36, including a superb caught
   and bowled.

   In reply Exford struggled in the face of tight bowling, with Nick Hill
   and Matt Bowden both being successful in their opening spells despite
   some poor catching.  Alistair Lang and Tom Sparks then took over, with
   both bowling superbly and Sparks narrowly missing out on a hat trick,
   with the key wicket of big hitter JD a great piece of intelligent
   bowling.  Exford limped to 108 all out as Hill claimed his second wicket
   in the twenty-sixth over.

   TCC 244-8 (J Abbott 65, B Lang 57, P Sparks 30*, J Williams 3-36, A
   Bruce 3-48)
   Exford 108 all out (JD 31, T Sparks 3-27)

Timberscombe took on old foe Brasted Invicta on Sunday and it was a
familiar tale as they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

   Having lost the toss Timberscombe fielded first and despite a couple of
   early wickets Brasteed got off to a good start, with Pearce and S Young
   being severe on anything off length or line.  It took a magnificent
   catch at square leg by Kev Godfrey off Chris Hill to remove Pearce for
   42 with Young following to the same bowler shortly afterwards for 45.
   However, there was no respite as M Lea completed his maiden half
   century, and only tight bowling from Godfrey kept Brasted below 250 as
   they closed their forty overs on 242-7, which was attainable for a
   Timberscombe side with a strong batting line-up and lightning outfield.

   Timberscombe started well, keeping close to the required rate thanks to
   some delightful attacking batting by Nick Hill, who posted his fifty in
   double quick time in the face of decent bowling.  Number three Rob
   Golding batted well until sawn off by the trigger happy visiting umpire,
   and although Hill was still going strong he did not have much support at
   the other end until his brother joined him, at which point he completed
   his first century in four years and retired as he was visibly flagging
   in the heat.  This signalled Chris to attack the bowling until he too
   was cut off in his prime despite a massive inside edge onto his pads.
   With the tail failing to wag and the run rate required mounting not even
   the returning Nick Hill could attain victory, as he was run out in the
   penultimate over with the home side twenty runs short.

   Brasted Invicta 242-7 (Lea 67*, S Young 45, Pearce 42, B Young 35)
   TCC 222 all out (N Hill 108, B Young 3-23)

A depleted Timberscombe side took on SB Exiles and lost by eight wickets,
in a match played over two innings a side of fifteen overs each.

   Eight man Timberscombe won the toss and elected to bat first, but an
   initial collapse saw the score at 31-4 after nine overs in the face of
   tight bowling, before Bruce Lang and Dominic Bowden saw Timberscombe to
   a decent total of 67-4, Lang carrying his bat for 29 not out.

   In their first innings the tourists got off to a fine start as Hutton
   hit the boundary regularly, and visiting skipper Wallace employed the
   long handle to take a first innings lead of 46, while Bruce Lang’s left
   arm spin claimed two wickets thanks to stumpings by Ollie Maxwell and
   Phil Bowden rolled back the years to take a wicket.

   After a fine tea Timberscombe’s second innings was a much more
   aggressive affair, as Ashley Keal smashed a superb 45 in double quick
   time, and skipper Matthew Bowden carried his bat, reaching a maiden
   fifty off the penultimate ball of the innings as SB Exiles were set 91
   to win.

   After a tight start from Dominic Bowden, James Ball and Dave Cook runs
   began to flow as Beevers and Sheehan began to accelerate the scoring
   rate, and despite losing a couple of wickets Beevers hit the winning
   runs with two overs to spare, to bring a fine and very enjoyable days
   cricket to a close.

   Timberscombe: 67-4 and 136-4 (M. Bowden 51*, A. Keal 45, B. Lang 29*)
   SB Exiles: 113-6 and 91-2 (Beevers 43*, Hutton 35, Wallace 31)