WEPL Premier One

Bridgwater 298-7 beat Downend 217 by 81 runs

CAMERON Williams starred with bat and ball to fire Bridgwater to an 81-run victory away at high-flying Downend on Saturday.

The Australian, promoted to the top of the order on the Bristol side’s small ground, plundered 82 off just 71 balls as Bridgwater posted 298-7 having won the toss.

He then ripped through the Downend top order to return figures of 6-55 and seal an emphatic victory for his side.

Bridgwater got off to a flying start with the bat as Williams and ‘Merv’ Hallaran (39) peppered the short boundaries with some brilliant strokeplay.

Hallaran was first to go as he offered a sharp chance to Bobby Naeem off the bowling of Phil Allen (4-43), but Williams continued the onslaught at the other end, joined by Mitchell Windsor (44).

Having hit nine fours and five sixes, Williams departed for 82 with the score on 157, but there were further fireworks to follow, courtesy of Stuart Butt (63 off 40 balls) and Josh Horler (25no) as Bridgwater closed just two short of 300.

Downend’s reply started in the same fashion as Bridgwater’s innings with openers Grieshaber (65) and Pandya (22) taking the attack to the visitors.

With the seamers proving ineffective, leg spinner Williams was introduced to the attack, and the move immediately paid dividends as he removed both openers in relatively quick succession.

He wasn’t finished there, going on to dismiss the whole of Downend’s top six to leave the hosts reeling on 175-6.

Downend had no answer to the Australian, who recorded season’s best figures and took his league tally to 24 wickets.

Bridgwater captain Steffan Jones (3-33) rounded off proceedings with three of the final four wickets to fall, while Chris Skidmore (1-43) also got himself on the board as Downend were all out for 217 in the 37th over.

Bridgwater round off the 2014 season with a derby against already relegated Ashcott & Shapwick at The Parks, starting at 12.30pm.