Defending a paltry first innings total of 96 against defending Premiers Claremont-Nedlands, the Bears just managed to stave off the embarrassment of an outright loss on the second day.  The visitors resumed at 4-81 and quickly established a first innings lead and went on to post a total of 233.

Young Claremont middle order batsmen Reece O'Connell and Jamie Roberts were the best performers with 43 and 59 respectively.  One bright light for Bayswater was the welcome return to form and fitness of former Western Warrior quick Michael Thistle whose 5 for 45 was his best performance for two seasons.

With a lead of 137 and 39 overs remaining in the match, the Claremont bowlers set about ripping the heart out of the Bayswater top-order in an attempt at an unlikely outright victory.  The first five wickets fell for only 34 runs inside ten overs.  While Tim McDonald comprehensively bowled opener Chris Hall for 2, it was his less heralded partner Nick Degrys who wrought most of the havoc.  Degrys, who finished the day with 5-43, took four of the next five wickets to fall and had the Bears batting in disarray.

Marcus North and Nick Pishos were each dismissed for 13 and although Rhys May [29] anchored a minor recovery, it was left to wicketkeeper Rob Peach to guide the Bears through an unlikely escape hatch.  When number eleven Matt Inness joined Peach they had to survive the last six overs and managed to do so in the gathering gloom at 6.35 pm.Peach played his most valuable innings for Bayswater and finished unbeaten on 40.

The Bears have the opportunity to recover their season when they travel to Breckler Park to take on Mount Lawley over the next two Saturdays.

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