Coalpit Heath CC 3rd XI 122 all out lost to Stoke Gifford CC 1st XI 125/3 by 7 wickets
Stoke Gifford’s 1st XI produced a clinical all-round performance at Westerleigh Playing Fields to claim a convincing seven-wicket win over Coalpit Heath CC 3rd XI in Eighth Division North action.
Having won the toss and chosen to bat, the hosts were immediately put under pressure by Stoke Gifford's opening attack. Lewis Jefferies struck two vital early blows, trapping Will Robinson lbw before bowling Paul Giddings without scoring, reducing Coalpit Heath to 10/2. Jefferies set a disciplined standard at the top of the innings, bowling his full eight overs to finish with figures of 2-18.
Jack Carrington (28) and Jonathan Billington (18) mounted a recovery for Coalpit Heath, grafting through a 47-run partnership to move the score to 57. However, spin bowler Shabir Azizi broke the stand, holding his nerve as Billington was caught by Jefferies. Azizi struck again shortly after, enticing Carrington out of his crease for Ian Semple to complete a sharp stumping.
With the hosts poised at 68/4, Joe Black produced a match-defining spell. Ripping through Coalpit Heath’s middle order, Black bowled Waseem Ali, David Johnson, Sheraz Wasir, and Jim Honeywill in rapid succession. His relentless accuracy resulted in remarkable figures of 4-18 from eight overs, reducing the home side from a stable platform to 84/8. Rich Stadden then wrapped up the innings, bowling Chris Williams and Penny Hendy to finish with 2-11. Despite a late fightback from Charles Walwin, who remained undefeated on 23, Coalpit Heath were dismissed for 122 in 32.5 overs.
Stoke Gifford’s pursuit of 123 got off to a mixed start against the bowling of Waseem Ali. Ali bowled opener Brendan Walsh for 8 with 23 runs on the board and removed Harry Black for 8 shortly after, leaving Stoke Gifford at 32/2.
Any hopes Coalpit Heath had of sparking a collapse were firmly put to rest by opener Ian Semple and the in-form Lewis Jefferies. Semple provided supreme composure at one end, anchoring the chase with great patience. At the other end, Jefferies took the attack to the bowlers, striking seven crisp boundaries in an entertaining 41 from just 42 deliveries.
The pair added 86 runs for the third wicket, taking Stoke Gifford within sight of the target. Though Jefferies was eventually bowled by Jim Honeywill with the score on 118, the job was virtually complete. Semple carried his bat through the innings to finish unbeaten on 44 from 85 balls, including four fours and a six, before Shabir Azizi struck a six of his own to seal the victory in the 26th over.