Stoke Gifford CC 77/9 lost to Patchway CC 81/2 by 8 wickets
Stoke Gifford’s Twenty20 campaign in The Bristol Plate hit a bump in the road as visiting Patchway CC secured an eight-wicket victory. Having won the toss and elected to bat on home turf, Stoke Gifford aimed to build a commanding total, but a disciplined performance from the Patchway attack restricted the hosts to 77/9 from their 20 overs before the visitors chased down the target.
The match opened with early intent from Shabir Azizi, who struck two boundaries and a six in a lively 20 off just 13 deliveries before retiring out. Henry Birt played a patient anchoring role at the top of the order, scoring 18 off 41 balls with two fours. However, Patchway quickly found their rhythm with the ball. Richard Holland made the initial breakthrough by bowling Bill Gates (2) with the score at 33/1, while Mukesh Sharma bowled J Jerish for five during an exceptionally tight four-over spell that yielded just five runs.
The defining spell of the innings came from Ashray Shetty, who tore through the middle order to claim figures of 4/13 from his four overs. Shetty dismissed Ryan Edwards (8) and trapped I Inoshan lbw for a duck on consecutive scores at 59, before bowling C Charith (2) and having Birt caught by Jono Howie to leave Stoke Gifford reeling at 62/6. Jamie Franks provided late resistance with a brisk 10 off 10 balls, but Santosh Ritti cleaned up the tail with 3/9 in two overs, removing Franks, Nathan Wiltshire (0), and stumping Tom Meadows (1) to close the innings at 77/9, with Rich Stadden remaining unbeaten on one.
Defending a total of 78, Stoke Gifford’s opening bowlers showed plenty of fight. Tom Meadows bowled three tight overs for just 11 runs, including a maiden, while J Jerish produced a brilliant spell, taking 1/6 from his three overs with a maiden of his own. Stoke Gifford got their first break when Rich Stadden had Mukesh Sharma (17) caught at 39/1, and Jerish soon bowled opener Ajay Yadav for 23 with the score at 49/2.
Despite the breakthroughs and economical supporting overs from Jamie Franks (0/10) and I Inoshan (0/6), Patchway’s middle order stayed composed. Andrew Ridley (20 not out off 26 balls) and Tom Cox (12 not out off 15 balls) steered the visitors across the line without further loss, reaching 81/2 in 17.1 overs. Though a tough day for the side, the tight bowling of Jerish and Meadows and Azizi's explosive start provided bright spots for Stoke Gifford to carry into their next fixture.