WEPL Premier One

Bridgwater 317-8 beat Taunton Deane 177 by 140 runs

BRIDGWATER flexed their early season muscles with a 140-run victory over Taunton Deane at The Parks on Saturday.

Jonathan Vickery led the Bridgy charge with a breezy 76 not out as the hosts posted an imposing 317-8 from their 50 overs – Chris Gange (61) and Andy Hallaran (54) also registered half centuries while Taunton Deane contributed 36 extras.

Only Australian Jon Rogers (81) put up any meaningful resistance for Deane, but Chris Skidmore (3-37), Cameron Williams (2-34) and Todd Barrett (2-22) secured an emphatic win for Bridgwater.

Hallaran struck six fours and three sixes in his quick-fire half century, as he and Mitchell Windsor (20) put on 54 for the first wicket.

Windsor was the first to go, caught off the bowling of Milligan, but Todd Barrett’s run-a-ball 30 ensured Bridgy continued to rattle along.

He fell with the score on 118 and Hallaran followed shortly after, both to Luke Whitear.

From here on in, Gange and Vickery took charge, plundering 71 runs in quick time – with Vickery in particular striking some lusty blows.

Gange departed for a well made 61 and Steffan Jones added 23, but it was Vickery who saw Bridgwater past the 300 mark, with seven fours and two sixes in his 56-ball innings.

In reply, the impressive Skidmore got Bridgwater off to the best possible start, removing Loud (1), Fraser (17) and Leach (4) to leave Taunton Deane 54-3.

Cameron Williams leg spin dug Deane a deeper hole as he took two wickets in two balls to account for Warren and Shaikh – but Jon Rogers was standing firm at the other end and the Australian left hander began to open up as wickets tumbled at the other end.

He hit 13 fours in his 81, but Steve Davis snuck one through his defences to see Deane slump to 129-6.

Saxby (29) restored an element of pride to scorecard, but he was running out of partners as Jones (15) and Derham (0) fell cheaply.

From running out of partners, Saxby was then run out himself courtesy of some neat work from Steve Davis.

Montgomery returned to mop up the tail and completed a convincing victory with his side with the dismissal of Whitear.

#Bridgwater host Bath next Saturday in a huge Premier One clash, 12.30pm start.

The following Sunday they travel to Cornwall to take on St Just in the National Knockout Cup – the club will be running a coach to the game, anyone interested should contact Andy Higgins or Michael Moran on 01278 455018.