Deane Return to Winning Ways

With the travelling Deane team arriving late just in time for the toss, Keynsham captain Dan Jarman had no hesitation in sending the Deane into bat in the cold, damp and murky conditions that welcomed the visitors upon their arrival.

The prevailing conditions instilled confidence and belief in the Keynsham bowlers as they set about their work and Tom Bryan was first to get his name in the scorebook when he had Tennessee Harlow caught at short cover driving loosely early on for 3.

Bryan then had his second victim as Calvin Harrison followed soon after for 6, somewhat unlucky to be caught down the leg side looking to work the ball to fine leg.

At 17-2 in the fourth over, opener Ali Warren was joined by skipper Harry Thomas to rebuild the Deane innings. Both started vigilantly against the probing Bryan before he was replaced by Harry Jordan. The change allowed the Deane some respite and with the first three overs of the Jordan spell conceding 23 runs, both batsmen seem to settle.

With the Deane gaining momentum and heading towards 70-2 from 15, Keynsham turned to a change at the other end and the left arm spin of Sam Weller soon brought reward as Warren was LBW for a patient 19.

The wicket of the ageing Warren provided the opening Keynsham yearned for, from 71-3 the Deane subsided to 94-6 in the next 11 overs as Tom Moy, replacing Harry Jordan (0-29), combined with Weller to take the next 3 wickets at a cost of a mere 27 runs.

Captain Thomas (33) was next to fall, stumped by wicketkeeper Taylor as the temptation to hit Weller over the top became too much. Debutant Will Smale (6) survived a couple of enthusiastic LBW appeals before he was found wanting on the third occasion and Weller (3-27) had his third victim.

After a steady start Nathan Gilchrist (7) looked intent on clearing the boundary and moving the score on as best he could, however an over ambitious drive over mid-off proved his downfall as Harry Jordan pouched an easy catch off the bowling of Moy (1-26).

With wickets tumbling before him, Luke Williams (26) looked the most assured of the Deane batsmen, combining a range of powerful strokes down the ground with the singles on offer to push the Deane to 107-6 in the 28th over.

With Tom Bryan returning to the attack, the partnership between Williams and number eight Harry Smith soon looked like it would continue to grow as 10 runs yielded from the first over of his second spell. Bryan was not to be outdone however, and he soon replied to claim the wicket of Smith for 8, another catch for Jordan at mid-off.

Sam Shaikh joined Williams, but the 8th wicket partnership only yielded another 9 runs as Bryan bowled a beauty to dismiss Williams, the ball nipping back down the hill to send Williams on his way for an invaluable 26.

Bryan was further rewarded for an excellent afternoon’s work as he claimed his 5th victim, number ten Rob Pryke swiping in ugly fashion across the line as Bryan returned 5-29 from his 10 overs to the leave the Deane reeling at 132-9 at the end of the 38th over.

With still 12 overs to bat and having just claimed their first batting point, the Deane looked in serious trouble of not batting their allotted overs for two weeks in succession. However, number nine Sam Shaikh (35 not out) fund a willing ally in number 11 Matt Derham (19 not out) as they shepherded the Deane innings for the remaining overs.

Crucially the last four overs yielded 41 runs and the last over 21 runs as Shaikh landed three sixes towards the pavilion as the Deane moved from a below par 149-9 at the end of the 46th to set a more than competitive total of 191-9 from their full 50 overs and claim a further two batting points.

Ali Warren joined the Deane youngsters in rapturous applause on the away balcony at the end of the first half, as the momentum of the game had perhaps swung in the Deane’s favour.

Enthused by the final stages of their first half batting display, the second half got off to the best possible start for the Deane as Nate Gilchrist breached the defence of Russ Wakefield (0) and Rob Pryke (1-21) got past Tom Bancroft (3) as both Keynsham openers were bowled to send the home side to 14-2.

Both openers bowled aggressively and although wayward at times, used the slope to good effect. Having conceded 6 runs from his first four overs, Gilchrist was then rewarded with his second wicket, as Tom Moy was bowled for 4 to leave Keynsham 30-3.

Keynsham Captain Dan Jarman and Alex Taylor looked assured in adding 56 runs for the fourth wicket before leg spinner Calvin Harrison was introduced into the attack as the Deane rotated through their bowlers in hope of a further breakthrough.

With good variation and assistance from a pitch responsive to spin, Harrison bowled in good partnerships with Harry Smith (0-18) and Matt Derham (0-13). The pressure told on the stroke of drinks as Taylor was bowled looking to force one away off the back foot for a well compiled 26.

Drinks were taken with Keynsham 86-4, with Keynsham captain Jarman steadfast at one end the game still seemed in the balance, but with the other end now ajar, the Deane turned to Gilchrist to exploit the opening just created.

He did not disappoint as he immediately accounted for Jarman (23) with a quick, well-directed bouncer which was shovelled high into the air at square leg for a real heart in the mouth moment as Ali Warren, turned, ran and ran again before juggling the catch to take it on the third attempt.

87-5 became 107-7 as the impressive Gilchrist bowled with great heart and aggression up the hill to claim his fourth and fifth wickets respectively, Lewis Townsend comprehensively bowled for 8, before number eight Ben Clarke (1) inexplicably left a length ball that sent the off-stump cartwheeling and the Deane fielders into ecstatic celebration.

Gilchrist ended his second spell to return figures of 5-26 from 9 overs, before Calvin Harrison then claimed his second wicket as he had Martin Millard bowled for 11, Harrison eventually finishing with 2-27 from his 10 overs.

Deane captain Thomas, sensing an opportunity to get in on the act, brought himself onto to bowl and he duly bowled Tom Bryan for 3 before Matt Derham hung onto a sharp catch at square leg to account for Sam Weller for a first ball duck.

The last 7 wickets had fallen for 40 runs as the Deane celebrated an improbable 74-run victory as Keynsham subsided to 117 all out in 37.4 overs.

The Deane took 20 points from the game, including 2 bowling bonus points, an impressive tally considering only 1 point looked likely as they had earlier found themselves 131-9.

The win keeps the Deane in third place ahead of the visit of fourth placed Ilminster at the Convent Field next Saturday.