Keynsham lose off last ball

Keynsham lost by one wicket at Knowle in a last ball drama.

The visitors had been hoping to consign their recent poor form to the recycle bin at bottom of the table Knowle.

 Having lost the toss Keynsham batted first.  Despite a slow and somewhat shaky start, they eventually posted a respectable total of 219-9 in their 50 over allocation. Young Alex Taylor top scored with a gritty 41 and he was well supported by Gaz Worgan and Paul Robbins both with 33.

At one stage a weaken Knowle side looked to be cruising and Keynsham fought back well to leave the home side requiring 4 off the last over with the last pair at the wicket.  Alas, the last ball of the final 50th over (ball 7 due to a wide) went for 4 leaving Keynsham as losers by 1 wicket.  Nail biting stuff, but the local side will have to win such matches to survive at this level and cannot continue to be so profligate with ‘extras’ – 50 in total, including 27 wides .

In the reciprocal fixture the Keynsham 2nd XI hammered Knowle by 8 wickets. Batting first Knowle lost their top 3 cheaply to Chris Britton (3-44).  After receiving some early slap, Mark Cole , on his return from the BBC coverage of the World Cup, took 4-35 to leave Knowle all out on 115. A fine knock from Wang Wakefield, smarting from having been dropped from the 1’s, with 75 not out off just 63 balls saw Keynsham home to a facile win of 8 wickets.

Over at Wellsway School, the 3rds were extracting revenge from Avonside from an early season major defeat.  They bowled the visitors out for 136 with notable analyses from Jack Stiff (3-44), Dan Gerrish with 3-13 and a remarkably economic spell of 8 overs for 8 by Peter Rebera. Making another of his rare excursions onto the cricket field, Colin Arblaster creamed 73 not out, winning the match with a six. He was well supported by Martin Yards with 27 not out in an 8 wicket win.

On Sunday the 1st XI thrashed Lansdown at Bath. They reached 202 all out in their allotted 40 overs. Hairy McLouglin top scored with 43, Alex Taylor 41 and Adam Kay, possibly in his last game before going to college in the USA,30. At the tea interval, the ‘sage of Keynsham’, who shall be nameless (Gibbo), predicted that this was 40 runs short of a winning target and the team was due a severe beating; Lansdown all our 62! Alex Wilton 3-14 off 8; Rhythm Tarring (no wides!) 3-8 off 5, and John Rood 1-8 off 5 all showed how wrong someone can be.

At Wellsway the 2nd XI hosted Downend who posted the large target of 307-7.  Devoid of bowling strength they did well to keep it this low; Wizard spinner Rich Morris returning figures of 3-44 and Matt Hubbard an excellent 1-38 off a full 8 overs. The result was never in doubt, but the local side posted 172-9 in reply. Hubbard top scored with 69 and Chairman Richard Tarring supported with 23.

Reporter: Evvie Roller.