Defending WEPL champions Clevedon suffered an unexpected setback with a 33-run loss to Bristol at Dial Hill on Saturday.
The home side, chasing 167, somehow contrived to squander a seemingly cast-iron match-winning position by frittering away wickets with reckless abandon.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Bristol soon wished they hadn't as Ryan Higgins, taking something of a busman's holiday from Gloucestershire duties, tore through the visiting top order to claim four wickets for just 12 runs from 10 overs.
After waiting for Higgins to run out of overs Bristol recovered somewhat from a parlous 53-5 to reach three figures and with the tail enders riding their luck a reputable total of 166 was posted.
Spinners Jake Lintott (2-28) and Will Thirkell (1-20) made things difficult by conceding just 48 runs from 20 overs before Matt Carpenter (2-47) finally brought proceedings to a close.
Keen to get on with the chase after tea, all-rounder Higgins shared in an opening stand of 45 with Masoor Khan by hitting seven fours in a blistering 35 from just 27 deliveries.
Greg Willows (16) and Harry Ellison (30) batted serenely enough to take the total to 89-2 but then it all went downhill as batsmen came and went.
Captain Lintott surrendered first ball, as indeed did both Nick Carpenter and Thirkell, while Dan Williams, Matt Carpenter,and Jack Harding combined to contribute a paltry total of just seven runs.
While this was all going on, a bemused number six Connor Crane (22 not out) was left watching the carnage from the other end before running out of partners with the deficit still at 33.
The wicket was totally reliable for the batsmen to play their shots but the bowlers of both sides pitched the ball up and straight and four lbw decisions against each side reflected the accuracy of the two attacks.
Despite the early defeat this season, the 2018 champions will look to get the defence of their title back on track when they visit Downend on Saturday.
League standings: Bath 42 pts, Downend 37, Bedminster 28, Clevedon 27, Lansdown 27, Bristol 24, Bridgwater 23, Potterne 22, Cheltenham 13, Taunton St Andrews 12.
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