West of England Cricket League Premier 1
Clevedon 221-6 beat Bridgwater 125 by 96 runs

BRIDGWATER started their WEPL Premier 1 season with defeat as Clevedon proved too strong on their own turf.

Early signs were good for the visitors, who started well with the ball and reduced the hosts to 63-5 with Chris Skidmore (1-38) and Calum Haggett (3-40) among the wickets.

Jake Lintott and Connor Crane led the recovery for Clevedon, adding 82 for the sixth wicket before Todd Barrett (1-14) came into the attack to remove the latter.

Lintott eventually made 70 before he was caught from the bowling of Andrew Roberts (1-39) but Will Plummer’s unbeaten 39 led the hosts to a challenging 221-6 from their 50 overs.

Bridgwater lost captain Andy Hallaran (2) early before Gloucestershire all-rounder Ryan Higgins removed Todd Barrett (4) and Calum Haggett (27).

In between those dismissals, Ian Dev Chauhan was dismissed for a duck on his Bridgwater debut and, when fellow new man Max Waller fell for a single, the visitors were 41-5.

Chris Skidmore displayed resistance with a trademark counter-attack, striking 53 from 46 balls with six fours and three sixes, but only Chris Singleton (12) offered much in the way of support in the lower order as the visitors were bowled out for 125.

Bridgwater bounced back to defeat North Petherton and Minehead in a national T20 competition on Sunday (see below) - next Saturday, Bridgwater host Bedminster at the Parks (12.30pm).

WEPL Somerset Division
Wembdon 1st XI 68 lost to Bridgwater 2nd XI 70-2 by 8 wkts

WEMBDON opened their season with a derby disaster as they were routed by Bridgwater’s lively attack at The Parks on Saturday.

Electing to bat first, Wembdon were immediately in trouble as openers Dan Bingham and Jack Lowe fell for five apiece at the hands of Ian Higgins and Scott Clapp, respectively.

Wembdon skipper Jonathan Brockwell did his best to steady the ship but he was bowled by Daniel Rossiter for just 13.

The introduction of Matt Habberfield accelerated Wembdon’s fate as he ripped through the middle order to quash any thoughts of a recovery.

Only Josh Henry offered any resistance, ending on an unbeaten top score of 17 as the innings was demolished around him.

Habberfield ended with 4-9 off five overs, Higgins 3-12 off seven, Clapp 1-13 and Rossiter 1-33 in a totally dominant performance.

As a result, Wembdon were all out for just 68 off 21-2 overs.

Bridgwater’s reply was a formality, despite Clapp being bowled for eight by Brendan Pope with 25 on the board.

Liam Kitch ensured there were no slip-ups, cruising to an unbeaten 31 and seeing his side home by eight wickets.

Pope took 1-15 off five and James Annison 1-24 off four but it was all academic for Wembdon.

On Saturday, Wembdon will be looking to kick-start their season when they welcome North Perrott (12.30pm start).

WEPL 2 Bristol/Somerset
Shapwick & Polden 188-8 beat Midsomer Norton 97 by 91 runs

SHAPWICK & Polden made a successful start to their WEPL 2 Bristol/Somerset campaign with a comfortable victory at Midsomer Norton.

Having lost the toss and put it on a damp pitch and slow outfield, Shapwick started well with captain Stephen Tinnion and Sam Edmunds putting on 69 for the first wicket. 

Runs were hard to come by after Tinnion (28) and Edmunds (31) were out, with Norton’s spinners bowling with great discipline and the slow outfield meaning only 11 boundaries were scored in the whole innings. 

Some useful lower order contributions from John Stratton (24), Harry Woolway (10) and Oskar White (14) took Shapwick to 188-8 in their 50 overs.

Norton’s captain Nick Pang started very aggressively in reply, taking 20 off Woolway’s first over, but the bowler bounced back having him caught at mid-on by Ben Rudge.

Woolway then backed this up by picking up two more whilst Steve Coppell had the other opener lbw. 

Joe Mason bowled a superb spell of medium pace bowling, restricting runs in partnership with Wayne Spencer, who utilised the drying pitch to pick up three wickets. 

A run out after drinks from White left it to Rudge to clean up the tail, and for Shapwick to take 20 points from what could have been a tricky start to the season at the newly-promoted side.

Next week, Shapwick host Lansdown who didn’t play on Saturday due to the bye forced by Glastonbury’s withdrawal.

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BRIDGWATER produced two comprehensive victories to progress to the next stage of the National T20 Competition at North Petherton’s sun-blessed Heathfield Park on Sunday.

After being inserted by the home side, Bridgwater amassed 152-7 with Will Smeed (45) Ali Witts (27) and Chris Skidmore (23) scoring the bulk of the runs, despite 3-21 from the accurate Scott Briffett.

In reply, North Petherton had no answer to the wily Matt Habberfield (4-15).

In support, Will Smeed (2-5), Todd Barrett (2-6) and Stuart Butt (2-7) helped dismiss Pethy for a disappointing 66 with only Owen Irish (22) and Ryan Meppem (21) offering any resistance, Bridgwater winning by 86 runs.

In their second match, Bridgwater were again inserted, this time by Minehead, who bowled tidily to restrict them to 135-6 with the hard-hitting Will Smeed (35) again top scoring and Bridgwater’s overseas player Ian Dev Chauhan (31) getting into his stride.

Chris Skidmore’s aggressive opening again produced a quickfire 26.
Jack Sully (2-22) was the pick of the bowlers.

Skidmore was to follow this up with 5-9 and Habberfield 2-15 as Minehead were dismissed for 92 with Ali Harrison (30) and Dan Bowditch (23) top scoring, leaving Bridgwater 33-run winners.

Appreciative thanks to North Petherton CC for hosting the day and to the tea ladies for excellent catering.