It was a fantastic weekend for Lansdown as both our first and second teams

We’re still trying to figure out when our last first team league win was at North Parade – it was certainly before 1997 and that epic campaign. Whenever it was, it was before many of our first team players were born! Read all about the win below and you can re-watch the whole affair via the Play Cricket link too (Josh is on his second viewing – saving up Love Island for the weekend he tells me). We’re now in 3rd place just two points ahead of Bath. With our two remaining games against Taunton and Cheltenham, it looking positive for local bragging rights this season.

Whilst recollections of the day are somewhat cloudy for this correspondent (it was a long day and evening in the sun), I’ll try my best here …

It was a fine day with some cloud cover early on – with that in mind and armed with a bowling attack that has been firing in recent weeks, Oskar opted to field after winning the toss. He was soon rewarded as both Josh and Brad took a wicket apiece to remove the Bath openers early and reduce the home side to 14 for two in just five overs.

From there, things got tougher with the quality and experience of Bath’s Ashur Morrison and Paul Muchall at the wicket. The patience of Ashley Allen told though at Muchell holed out to Oskar for just 10. With Morrison falling just five overs later to Sam Wheller – and another catch by Oskar things were looking good. Bath were 80 for 4 with 20 overs remaining and the loss of two key batters. They battled on though, and a splendid half-century by Kyle Hopper took them to a below par but very defendable 163. A terrific performance in the field by Lansdown with both Josh and Brad finishing with three wickets each.

The chase was on then and despite seeing off the first few over, Jordan misjudged a straight one from Muchall – bowled for just two and leaving Lansdown on 12-1 in the sixth over. Our hero with the bat this year, Connor Brown followed shortly after, and at 16 for two the optimism of the Lansdown dominated terraces sank a little. Oskar and James Palmer steadied the ship for 10 overs, they battled hard but scoring was tough. When Oskar fell for 7 followed by Palmer (32), Tim Wyatt (7) and George Scott (17) things were looking to be slipping away as we found ourselves on 79 for 6 from 30 overs. It was nervy times for the crowd but they needn’t have worried as Brad and Brandon took to the middle. What followed was a superb partnership that picked up the run rate and took the game to the Bath bowlers. Brandon, hitting his highest score of the year showed great determination to hit 40 off 44 balls. Brad looked imperious with a dominant 42 off just 34 balls including a ridiculous hook for six and flash for 4 to finish the game in style with 4 overs remaining. BRILLIANT STUFF.