WEPL Premier 1
Bristol 215-8 beat Bridgwater 167 by 36 runs (D/L)

BRIDGWATER snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as a batting collapse which saw seven wickets fall for 37 runs condemned the home side to defeat to Bristol.

A superb bowling performance by the Bridgwater seam quartet of Will Williams, Chris Skidmore, Liam Redrup and Chris Singleton had the powerful Bristol batting line up, boosted by three Gloucestershire professionals, in some trouble at 67-4. 

Gareth Roderick (57) held the innings together for the visitors, and supported by Roger Sillence (25) recovered the position putting on 68 for the fifth wicket.

Once this partnership was broken Bridgwater tore through the middle lower order reducing Bristol to 162-8, only for the visitors to be rescued by Jack Ellison’s unbeaten 49 from 39 balls which included four 6s.

At 215-8 after 47 overs Bristol’s innings closed due to the heavy showers, the pick of the bowlers being WIlliams (3-25) and Singleton (3-25) . 

This resulted in Bridgwater somewhat harshly being allocated a revised score of 204 to win in 38 overs.

After tea Bridgwater lost Merv Hallaran early, however in form pairing of Tom Lace and George Bartlett took the attack to the Bristol attack taking the score to 59-1 after only seven overs before Lace fell for 36.  

When Bartlett (34) fell with the score on 92, Todd Barrett (21) and Ben Coombes (32) had Bridgwater in a winning position at 130-3 with 14 overs left. 

However, a collapse was instigated by man of the match Ellison, who picked up five wickets to see the home side tumble to defeat.

WEPL Somerset Division
Bridgwater 2nds 205-3 beat Minehead 201-7 by seven wickets

KYRAN Devitt starred with bat and ball as Bridgwater 2nds made short work of a potentially challenging target at Minehead.

Devitt took 3-43, with Matt Habberfield and Tom Bellinger chipping in with two wickets apiece, as Minehead made 201-7 from their rain-affected 40 overs.

Opener Stuart Butt led the pursuit of that total in style, hitting 14 fours and a six as he provided the mainstay of the Bridgwater response which stumbled slightly when John Hill and Will Moyse both departed for ducks to leave the visitors on 82-3.

Butt was left stranded four short of a century, walking off unbeaten with a 98-ball 96 after Devitt had combined with the opener to add 51 not out to his earlier three-wicket haul.

Bridgwater’s successful chase was also boosted by 41 extras as Minehead’s attack struggled to find their line, and the visitors completed their comfortable victory with 6.2 overs to spare.

Bridgwater’s victory gave them 20 points and lifted the team to third ahead of Saturday’s home tie with struggling Wellington at the Parks.