WEPL Bristol & Somerset

Wembdon 260-6 beat Bedminster 230 by 30 runs

IAN Blackwell put in a match-winning display to help Wembdon to a 30-run win over Bedminster to take their fight for survival into the last week.

The former Somerset and England all-rounder top scored for Wembdon with 63 as they posted 260-6 from their 50 overs before spinning his side to victory with impressive figures of 4-22.

Wembdon now need to beat Brislington on the final day of the season and hope Frenchay lose to Bishopston if they are to survive the drop.

Openers Puddy and Bowditch got Wembdon off to an excellent start before Sam Knapp and former Australia international Ian Harvey tightened things up for Bedminster.

The opening pair took the score to 50 with a chanceless partnership to this point and Puddy went to 50 before being the first man to fall.

Bowditch battled on, scoring a deserved 50.

Joined at the crease by Blackwell, the pair added 41 for the second wicket.

Blackwell was unlucky to be run out backing up at the non-striker’s end with the score on 222-2, but a late cameo from Bingham (25no) saw Wembdon reach a solid 260-6 from 50 overs.

The Bedminster innings would always depend on openers Harvey and Gareth Elphick, who took the score to 169, needing 91 from 20 overs, but up stepped Blackwell to turn the game.

He trapped Harvey LBW for a classy 101, and two overs later Brockwell ran out Elphick for 60.

Blackwell claimed a caught and bowled to leave Bedminster on 180-3, and then picked up two wickets in two balls.

Bingham and Pope returned for the final four overs with Bedminster requiring 46, two wickets for Pope firing Wembdon to a much needed win.

WEPL Bristol & Somerset Second XI Wembdon 224-9 beat|Bedminster 220-7 by one wicket KIERAN Cosens scored an unbeaten 56 to guide Wembdon II to another dramatic victory.

Batting at number 8, Cosens and Pete Gliddon (23no) combined to put on a match-winning last wicket partnership with an over to spare.

Tom Lott (3-67) and Gliddon (2-38) had been Wembdon’s best bowlers as they kept Bedminster down to 220-7, Alex Tryfonos top scoring with 77.

In reply, Jordan Rawles scored 46 for Wembdon, but then came a middle order collapse before Cosens and Gliddon saved the day.