BRADLEY Stoke make a perfect start to the new campaign with a nine-wicket defeat of Timsbury in the Senior Division of the Martin Berrill Bristol & District League.
The village side struggled against Ben Rivers (5-13 from seven) and Dan Qureshi (3-7 from two) as they were rushed out for only 48 ahead of Bradley Stoke, who were relegated out of WEPL last year, wrapping up maximum points.
OB Westbury, who also dropped down from WEPL, cruised in by 134 runs away to Clevedon 2nds, Connor Crane top scoring on 108 off 109 (12 fours) against his old club while there was also 82 from opener Ben Keysell before George Willis (4-33) and Stuart MacArthur (4-34) ran through the Clevedon lineup.
Hanham were rushed out for only 51 away to Coalpit Heath who wrapped up an 83-run triumph despite the efforts of Jack Alway (4-13 from nine) and promoted Bristol Pakistanis emerged 86-run victors away to Pak Bristolians.
In Division Five, opener Shehan Somaratn cracked an unbeaten 156 from only 105 (16 fours, five sixes) for Bristol Sri Lankans who thumped Bath 4ths by 235 runs.
And Muhammad Saim’s unbeaten 109 from just 57 featured four fours and 11 sixes, helping power Bristol Aces to a 47-run success at Brislington 3rds.
Andy Pickett (122 no) and Nick Price (98) dominated a 116-run success for Bishopston 3rds at Hampset 2nds in Division Seven where Martin Millard’s 122 was the highlight of Dyrham & Hinton’s 117-run defeat of Bristol Eagles.
And in Division Eight, Adam Febry’s 111 plus an unbeaten 88 from Ben Boardman helped Chipping Sodbury 3rds chase down a target of 242 away to Bedminster 4ths.
Si Preece produced one of the bowling spells of the day, finishing with 6-19 from eight, for Twyford House 3rds who went down by 42 runs against Old Caths in Division 11.
And Tom Howe’s return of 6-20 from six for Golden Hill 7ths in Division 15 ensured a 66-run triumph away to Frampton Cotterell 3rds.
Old Down’s two Saturday XIs were both involved in thrilling finishes that went right down to the wire.
The first team held off Bishopston 2nds by two runs in Division Three, Greg Welsher hitting 53 and Jon Pullin claiming 3-44 from eight.
And it was even tighter for the 2nds who kept their nerve for a one-run victory over Old Park in Division 12, Josh Little (60) and Shane Sheppard (3-20 from eight) both shining.