Harrison and Thomas Reignite Deane

After being inserted on a glorious day for batting, the veteran opening pair of Sam Shaikh and Ali Warren both fell cheaply against the new ball. Shaikh caught at slip for 5 and then Warren for 7 without addition to the score.

What followed was an exhibition in batting as Calvin Harrison and Harry Thomas took full advantage of the batting friendly conditions to post 163 runs for the third wicket. Thomas was the main protagonist as he recorded his third league century for the Deane and second in as many years against Bishopston.

At the other end Harrison was happy to milk ones and twos, rotating the strike back to Thomas. Harrison’s innings of 64 from 94 balls containing just three 4’s before he fell pushing Mark Coombes to cover for a simple catch.

Sam Underdown joined Thomas and immediately looked in control and at ease against the home attack. A few wristy flicks through midwicket were complemented by forceful strokes down the ground as the Deane innings entered its final phase.

Thomas, earlier bowled by Joe Wenham no-ball, moved through the gears with consummate ease and went to his hundred to a rapturous applause from his colleagues and burgeoning home support as the partnership with Underdown added 80 runs from the last 11 overs.

The Deane ended on 256-3 from their 50 overs, with Thomas 121 not out and Sam Underdown unbeaten on 36. A total perhaps 20/30 runs light, but a competitive score nonetheless in view of recent results.

The Bishopston innings started in electric fashion, the Deane total looking at least 20/30 light as openers James Taverner and Daaryoush Ahmed came out swinging to the Deane attack. The score had hurried to 94 in the 12th over, Tom Walsh 4 overs for 35 and Liam Redrup 3 overs for 26 coming in for harsh treatment, before Ahmed fell for 44 from just 35 balls.

Taverner continued on his way at the other end with David O’Brien in the supporting role as they moved Bishopston to 121 at 20 overs. The wicket of Ahmed allowing the Deane to peg back the scoring rate slightly as the leg spin of Harrison and off spin of Rana entered the fray.

As the flow of runs stemmed the Deane spinners took a grip on the game, O’Brien was next to go for 14 as he missed a sweep to be castled by Rana. His dismissal heralded as mini-collapse as Taverner then fell before to make it 123-3 and then 123-4 as Mark Tapper was superbly caught and bowled for a golden duck as Calvin Harrison took a stinging return catch.

At 123-4 the game was finely poised heading into the drinks break, however the Deane managed to force home their advantage soon after as Rana bowled Jack Hunter (9) and then Coombes (8) in quick succession to leave Bishopston 149-6 still 107 runs adrift with just 4 wickets remaining.

Gary Booth kept the game alive with a flurry of boundaries either side of the wicket and down the ground, but when he fell for 32 at 182-7 the Deane closed in on victory.

Leg spinner Luke Williams claimed home captain Frank Connelly for 4, before the returning Jason Squire claimed Joe Wenham LBW for 17. It was left to Deane skipper Thomas to finish off a fine day’s work as he accounted for Lawrence Cook and seal the first victory for the Deane in five league matches.

The win lifts the Deane to sixth, nine points clear of Taunton CC and Keynsham CC in bottom two, as they entertain Taunton CC at The Convent Field next Saturday.