After a couple of disappointing results in the last few weeks, the 2nd XI were looking to get back to winning ways. Having won the toss they put BAC in to bat, a tactic that has worked well in their 2 victories so far this year.

BAC got off to a good start with both openers scoring steadily. Portishead opening bowlers of Charlie Mott and Kyran Garrett bowled well but were unsuccessful in picking up any wickets, with the BAC batsmen jumping on anything a fraction short of a length. With the first bowling change came the first wicket, with Jake Bull bowling Sounak Dutta for 20. Bull had a fine spell of bowling going straight through to finish with figures of 9-0-39-2. Bull was ably supported from the other end by Steve James, who also took 2 wickets and finished with figures of 6-0-25-2. James' bowling was assisted with good working in the field, Kaine Southey and Charlie Mott taking fine catches as Portishead worked their way back into the match. Tony Mott took a crucial wicket of A Patel just before drinks with Kaine Southey taking a brilliant catch coming in off the boundary and just reaching the ball in time. The middle order for BAC contributed strongly with the Portishead bowlers starting to toil, but they dug deep and worked hard in the field and they were rewarded as wickets started to fall. BAC worked there way past 200 and it was left to Kyran Garret to finish of the innings when he had number 11, P. Patel, caught by Bull for a relatively straight forward catch, BAC finishing on 226. All the bowlers picked up wickets as the restricted the BAC batsmen form ever really cutting loose and posting a high score, with several batsmen getting in but not going on to a big score. A. Patel top scored for BAC with 43 and Bull was the pick of the bowlers picking up 2 vital wickets early on.

So Portishead started their innings requiring a tad over 5 an over to win, which seemed perfectly achievable on a decent pitch that played well. Unfortunately the batsmen never really got going, with some tidy bowling BAC were able to pick up regular wickets. Opener Pete Todd fell to a ball that pitched outside off and hit leg stump as both the BAC openers found movement with the ball. Charlie Mott and Kaine Southey were the only batsmen who got themselves in, C. Mott going on to make 39 and Southey chipping in with 20. But with wickets falling around them, no one was able to provide support from the other end and allow them to go on to a big score. Portishead could only muster 139 in reply as BAC won by 87 runs. Portishead may well look back and feel that they could have made BAC work harder for the wickets as 9 players were bowled, but in truth Portishead never really got up an running. With wickets falling to regularly and Portishead unable to build any meaningful partnerships they rarely looked like troubling BAC.

Next week sees the second XI travel to Hanham in their bid to get back to winning ways and start moving back up the table.