Carsons & Mangotsfield CC - Renegades 162/6 beat Stoke Gifford Twenty20 128/8 by 34 runs
Stoke Gifford’s Twenty20 side suffered a 34-run defeat at the hands of Carsons & Mangotsfield Renegades in Division 6 East, despite an exceptional all-round display from Shabir Azizi that brought the hosts within touching distance before a late flurry of wickets sealed the contest.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, the visitors got off to a rocky start when Robbie Seward struck almost immediately, bowling Hugo Bradbury with just two runs on the board. However, Daniel Cook (32) and Isaac Buckingham (16) dug in to lead the recovery, taking the score to 58 before Jamie Franks made the breakthrough by having Buckingham caught.
Franks soon struck again to remove Jack Child (9), finishing with figures of 2 for 33. Stoke Gifford applied steady pressure in the middle overs, with Cook run out for 32 and Alex Carr having Ben Child caught for 21. Azizi proved exceptionally economical, picking up a wicket and bowling a maiden to finish with 1 for 12 from his three overs. Nevertheless, a breezy unbeaten 36 from Sam Holbrook, alongside 40 extras, propelled the visitors to a competitive total of 162 for 6 from their 20 overs.
Stoke Gifford’s run chase started on the back foot as George Clatworthy delivered a testing opening spell, removing Ian Semple (5) and Matt Semple (4) in quick succession to leave the hosts reeling at 11 for 2.
What followed was a sensational third-wicket partnership between Azizi and Franks that turned the game on its head. Azizi was in sparkling touch, clearing the ropes three times and hitting five boundaries on his way to a 46-ball 53. Franks provided calm, steadfast support with 20 from 34 balls as the pair added 99 runs, dragging Stoke Gifford back into contention at 110 for 2.
The game swung decisively back to the visitors with the dismissal of Azizi, caught off Bradbury. His departure sparked a devastating middle-order collapse that saw Stoke Gifford lose four wickets for just three runs. Franks was run out by Ben Child for 111, before Christian Brennan (1) and Henry Birt (2) were both run out by Bradbury in rapid succession to leave the score at 113 for 6.
Bradbury then added the wicket of Seward (0), and Evan Campbell dismissed Roland Jones (3) as the required rate climbed out of reach. Alex Thompson Juan (6 not out) and Nathan Wiltshire (1 not out) saw out the remaining deliveries, but Stoke Gifford ultimately closed on 128 for 8. Though it ended in defeat, the hosts will take plenty of heart from Azizi and Franks' resilient stand.