After last week’s destruction of Colwall at The Park, Ross 2nds travelled to League leaders Bosbury for their latest fixture. The Hedgehogs opted to bat on an overcast day and openers Richie and Mike Jeffryes made steady progress, reaching 38 for the first wicket, before overly ambitious stroke play resulted in a swift top order collapse and, at 45-4 the hosts were in control. 

Simon Timewell (10) and Harry King (33) dug in and rebuilt an innings before King opened up, blitzing 20 from five balls only to fall caught and bowled off the next delivery, just as the bowler was asking his captain to be removed from the attack.

Soon after, another disastrous over had Ross buckling at 100-7, but the experienced Paul Morris and exuberant Wayne Husbands then put on a game changing stand of 65 for the 8th wicket, which saw Morris claim the highest score of the day with an unbeaten 34, whilst Husbands perished trying to push the score in the dying overs for 15. This enabled Ross to post a defendable, but not convincing, 165-8.

In reply, tight lines by Cameron Hill and Paul Morris soon had the hosts in trouble. The league’s top scoring batsman by a country mile, George Abbey, was frustrated into making a rash shot off of youngster Hill and a spectacular catch by Husbands saw the main threat back in the pavilion for just 13. Small contributions from the following batsmen were not enough, Paul Morris took 3-17 before Harry King entered the attack and killed any chance of the hosts rebuilding with figures of 4-14.

With the Bosbury batsmen trying to blast their way back into the game they came on the charge, however a diving catch by keeper Si Timewell followed by a stumping ensured victory was close. Theo Minnie cleaning up with 2-25, as the last batsman drilled a shot straight into the hands of Richie J at square leg to finish on 92 all out giving Ross a comfortable victory margin of 73 runs.

This convincing win sees Ross 2nds move up to fifth in the Division 4 table and looking forward to hosting local rivals Brockhampton at The Park next weekend in what is always a competitive fixture.