Defeat leaves Bath falling down table

Bath travelled to Downend in the West of England Premier League Premier One Division on Saturday and suffered a seven wicket defeat to drop to fifth in the table.

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Electing to bat, Bath’s openers got off to a flying start with 39 inside the first five overs before they lost Jack Scrivens for 22. Kester Moseley joined Brad Porteous and built an important second-wicket partnership of 81, before the latter went for arun-a-ball 60.

Sam Young (24) and Moseley (51) batted effectively for another partnership of 48 but, when both batters departed, the innings fell away as Bath slipped from 171-4 to 219 all out in the 45th over.

Despite Will Hope bowling the Downend opener out for a duck, the hosts’ top-order batted sensibly. A century partnership for the second wicket put Downend in good stead, before the remaining opener, Masoor Khan, continued on for an unbeaten 103. A rapid 57 not out from Callum Loud also aided Downend to victory.

Bath had also crashed out of the Somerset Major Cup last Thursday with defeat at Prem 2 Bristol/Som leaders Midsomer Norton.

Josh Sutton, James Arney and Spencer Gammon all claimed a couple of wickets as Bath were able to bowl Norton out for 158 with two balls of their 20 overs remaining.

Captain Scrivens (19) and Porteous (29) made a decent start to the reply, before Harry Ellison (29) and Hamish Bell (38) also contributed well. A complete collapse though saw Bath fall from 123-5 to 133 all out a ball into the final over to lose by 25 runs.

The second side continued their winning run after beating Claverham in the Senior Division of the Bristol & District League.

After being asked to field, left-arm spinner Josh Sutton (2-17) made a great start with two early wickets to leave the hosts on 45-2.

When Claverham’s anchoring opener went for a fine 50, they slumped from 95-4 to 155-9 from their 40 overs.

Mo Hamza followed his six wickets last week with 3-25, while Ross Newman picked up a hat-trick in his four-over spell of 3-16.