Usk beat Bristol in friendly

After double defeat on Saturday, Usk did at least taste victory on Sunday in a friendly at home to Bristol, beating their visitors by 5 wickets.

Bristol won the toss and chose to bat. Whilst the openers were putting on 55 for the first wicket, things looked ominous for the hosts. However, the introduction of spinners Tony Kear and Mike Jones halted the Bristol effort as they both picked up wickets. The visitors collapsed to 93-4. With no other partnership really taking off, Bristol were dismissed for 188 in the 39th over, largely thanks to Dale’s 54 holding things together. For Usk all the bowlers chipped in, with Jack Stedman’s 5-2-12-2 the outstanding figures.

Usk’s reply got off to a fine start with Ian Clayton and Ahmed Bapusha putting on 45 for the first wicket. The hosts then suffered the loss of a couple more wickets to be in the precarious position of 79-3 in the 23rd over. At this stage Ollie James joined Mike Jones at the crease and the pair never looked back. A stand of 90 ensued, taking Usk to the brink of victory before Jones fell for a well-constructed 59, which included 10 fours. Another Usk wicket when the scores were level added a bit of respectability to Bristol’s fielding effort, before James stroked the winning boundary. James, who had a fine weekend with the bat, finished with an unbeaten 60, which included 6 fours.