WEPL Premier One second XI

Bridgwater II 207-8 beat Frocester II 183 by 24 runs

BRIDGWATER second XI remain top of the pile in Premier One after a 24-run victory over Frocester on Saturday.

A match-winning partnership of 118 between Andrew Skidmore and Tom Pople helped Bridgwater recover from 83-6 to post 207-8 from their 45 overs - before Chris Singleton and Matt Habberfield took four wickets apiece to dismiss Frocester with four balls to spare.

A destructive opening spell from Frocester's Nabi Ahmadzai (4-30) had reduced Bridgwater to 45-4 as he accounted for the top four.

And when Alistair Witts fell for just five and Ed habberfield without scoring, Bridgwater were in a whole heap or trouble at 83-6.

Andrew Skidmore could only watch as the wickets tumbled at the other end, but he found a sturdy partner in Tom Pople and the pair combined to dig Bridgwater out of a hole.

Pople scored a fluent 63 at quicker than a run-a-ball, while Skidmore was more watchful with 81 from 109 balls - as Bridgwater finished on 207-8.

In reply, Frocester lost wickets at regular intervals and Scott Clapp joined Habberfield and Singleton in the wickets column.

It was Singleton who took the final wicket, having Downey (24) caught by Kitch to keep Bridgwater's title dreams well and truly alive.