Chipping Sodbury got their season off to a great start following the previous week’s washout with a battling victory over Lansdown.
They were given the perfect start by openers Bryan Jater and Jerry Swatton, who put on 39 before Swatton was bowled for a run a ball 28.
Jater and Jamie Wakefield added a steady 61 before debutant Jater was dismissed for a solid 30.
Harry Webb soon followed for two and when Wakefield was run out for 43 just as he was cutting loose, Sodbury were stuttering at 116-4.
However, Kris Davis came to the crease and turned the game on its head.
He raced to 50 off just 33 balls and was eventually caught out for 64 from just 40 balls.
His whirlwind innings contained six sixes and four fours.
He was well supported by Craig Scully with a patient 18 and despite a late flurry of wickets Sodbury posted a competitive 213-9 from45 overs.
Lansdown got off to a steady start, reaching 39 before Jerry Penfold made inroads with two quick wickets.
The visitors re-grouped and were comfortably positioned at 113-2 with 25 overs to go but a change of ends for skipper Jamie Rendell provided the catalyst for a Sodbury comeback.
First he bowled Sam Athey and then picked up the wicket of Chris Barker with the help of some smart work by veteran keeper Craig Scully.
Jon Toghill provided great support for Rendell with an accurate spell and was rewarded with a wicket.
Rendell picked up his third wicket of the match having James Dunning well caught in the deep by James Hicks.
Rendell produced a superb direct hit to claim a run out as well.
Wakefield finished the game quickly with his second wicket.
Bristol & North Somerset 2nd XI Lansdown (173) lost to Chipping Sodbury (263-4) by 90 runs a fine all round display saw Chipping Sodbury thrash Lansdown.
Lee Walters (14) and Mark Graham (16) gave Sodbury a decent start but the best was yet to come as Tom Febry entered the fray.
He cracked a fantastic 120 not out, his first league century, to demoralise the hosts’ attack.
With a combination of good placement and exquisite timing he produced a flawless innings.
Febry was ably supported by Nic Anderson (43) and Mark Reynolds, who was dismissed on the last ball of the Sodbury innings one short of his half-century.
Lansdown were unable to match the Sodbury onslaught and were always behind the run rate, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Bradley Arkwright picked up two early wickets and Mason Poole chipped in with two as well.
However, Mark Graham did the majority of the damage with his left arm swing as he blew away the hosts’ middle and lower order, claiming 5-40 in the process.
Bristol & District Cricket Association 2nd XI Senior Division Timsbury (208) lost to Chipping Sodbury 3rd XI (233-6) by 25 runs Chipping Sodbury travelled to Timsbury and made it two wins from two with a nervy victory.
Sodbury batted first and despite losing skipper Chris Young early on, managed to post a highly respectable 233 from their 45 overs.
Jeff Long (37) and Steve Doidge (28) consolidated after the early loss.
After they were dismissed in quick succession it was promising Jim Davis who ran the show as he top scored with 62, which included 11 fours.
The innings was given late impetus by George Ross (32*) and the evergreen Mike Pearson (38*).
The Timsbury response faltered initially as Matt Callicott claimed an early victim and then Tom Clay produced a fine spell to destroy the top order with 4-12.
A large eighth wicket partnership put the cat amongst the pigeons but Sodbury held their nerve with Jarrod Campling picking up the final two wickets to give them a deserved victory.
BDCA A XI Division One Chipping Sodbury (258) beat Stothert & Pitt 3rd XI (144) by 114 runs Andrew Neal rolled back the years with a glorious innings of 148 to lead Sodbury to victory.
He was in imperious form, despite being dropped on several occasions, punishing any bad ball with devastating consequences and losing several in the process.
Neal was well supported initially by James Welch (36) before dominating the strike.
He was then given good late support by Dan Brown with a well made 18.
Stothert & Pitt were never at the races with their reply against a strong Sodbury attack.
Dave Harvey (3-42) did the damage at the top of the order, Aaron Morgan then continued the good work with 3-28 and Ross Granger wrapped proceedings up with 3-14.
BDCA A XI Division Two Hampset 3rd XI (172-9) beat Chipping Sodbury 5th XI (136) by 36 runs Chipping Sodbury produced a battling performance but couldn’t quite do enough to beat Hampsett.
Hampset batted first and posted 172-9 from 45 overs.
Colin Carter picked up 3-36 and Rosie Tregear took 1-21, but Jack Thacker was the star with his first five wicket haul in senior cricket as he finished with 5-21.
Sodbury’s batsmen could not quite follow the good work done by the bowlers.
Despite the in-form Steve Hill making 38 opening the innings, only Colin Carter (47) made any real dent on the Hampset total and his efforts were in vain as Sodbury finished well short of their target.
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