Bristol and North Somerset 1st XI; Almondsbury (124 a.o) lost to Congresbury (125-6) by four wickets

ALMONDSBURY’S hopes of avoiding relegation virtually disappeared on Saturday when they lost by to Congresbury.

The home side’s batting failed to come up to scratch with only Ross Wakley scoring a battling 51.

Deepak (0) and Greg Stephens (9) fell victim to some fine bowling whilst Steve Braund (1) will have more luck with his batting in future.

For Congresbury Greg Lewis showed fine pace claiming 5-35 and he was well backed up by Baker (1-23), Bullock (1-16), Elliot (1-14) and Andrews (2-19) as Almondsbury were bowled out.

Almondsbur’s bowlers got off to a good start as Tommy Armfield quickly removed the dangerous Martin Fisher lbw for five.

Lloyd Davies and Nick Clifton then took the score onto 43 before the introduction of Steve Braund saw the removal of Davies with his first ball, bowled for 17.

Nick Clifton moved onto 28 before hitting a full toss from Braund, which the bowler thankfully caught diving to his left.

Congresbury moved onto a comfortable position at 97-3 before the introduction of Fraser Pepall removed Penny for 28, well caught by Tom Burgess at mid-on.

Stuart Castle soon followed, skying a top edge from Pepall which was comfortably taken by the bowler for 17, and in the next over Paul Brean (0) tried to carve Braund through gully only for Pepall to take a fine diving catch to his left.

At 103-6 Almondsbury had a glimmer of hope but Greg Lewis (17 not out) saw the visitors home and condemned Almondsbury to their tenth league defeat of the season.

Armfield (8-5-13-1), Braund (12.1-5-36-3) and Pepall (7-1-22-2) were the successful Almondsbury wicket takers.