WEPL Premier 1
Bridgwater 262-6 beat Bath 259-7 by 4 wkts

A SCINTILLATING game at The Parks on Saturday saw Bridgwater record a fantastic win against champions Bath.

The victory came courtesy of a fine 200-run stand between Max Waller and Stu Butt which changed the course of the game. 

Waller was to go on and smash a quite sublime unbeaten 137 which included 10 sixes as the large and vocal home support were entertained with a fine win.

Champions Bath have not had things their own way in 2018; however, they are still a formidable outfit and it was they who won the toss and elected to bat first.

Chris Skidmore again led the attack with impact, picking up the first two wickets, the second to a sublime running catch from Waller to dismiss Kiwi professional Greg Hay for a duck. 

From 30-2, the champions recovered with a 59 stand for the third wicket thanks to Tom Hankins (55), who was promoted to pinch-hit at the top of the order, eventually falling lbw to Waller.

Ex-Gloucestershire and Durham professional Paul Muchall (58) then shared stands of 53 with Somerset Academy prospect Ben Wells (58) and 61 with Jack Scrivens (33) to get Bath in a formidable position.

Credit to Bridgwater’s six bowlers, however, who all maintained control to restrict the scoring rate.

A brief cameo from Pagett at the death got the visitors up to a competitive 259-7, with Skidmore (4-62) the most successful Bridgwater bowler.

After tea, Bath’s four-pronged seam attack tore into the home batting, with Adam Kelly snaring the first three wickets to put Bridgwater under immense pressure. 

At 42-4 the situation was not looking good for the hosts, but Somerset professional Waller entered the fray joining Stu Butt in a rebuilding phase. 

Waller played very assertively from the start and was to be the aggressor in an enthralling partnership that gradually got Bridgwater back into the game. 

As the scoreboard inched the home side to within a sniff of victory, so the home support became more vocal, sensing the most unlikely of wins for their side.

A feature of Waller’s innings was three sublime ramp shots for six at the Northfield End and, with Butt playing the support role expertly, the home side were favourites. 

Butt fell for a superb 69 with 18 required in what was a very calm and responsible innings paced very well. 

After a further wicket, it was left to Todd Barrett to provide the support for Waller to finish the game in style and walk off on 137 not out from 97 balls, including eight fours and 10 sixes.

Waller left the field to a huge ovation from the large crowd who left very happy to have witnessed a crucial and quite dramatic win for Bridgwater.

A huge thank you to Mark Cummins and Dean Motors for their match sponsorship on the day, and also special mention to match ball sponsors TMB Patterns Ltd. 

On Saturday, Bridgwater visit Taunton St Andrew’s (12.30pm).

WEPL Somerset
Weston-super-Mare 121-3 beat Shapwick & Polden 117 by 7 wkts

SHAPWICK & Polden were unable to make it three wins a row as they came unstuck against a Peter Trego-inspired Weston side.

On losing the toss, Shapwick were put into bat on a green, but dry surface.

Captain Stephen Tinnion was off and running in Charl Willoughby’s first over, however his partner Sam Edmunds (1) gave Trego his first victim from one that rose sharply off a length.

Tinnion continued his positive intent but lost Will Mason, Wayne Spencer and John Stratton to lbw decisions and Ben Rudge fell first ball, leaving Shapwick 53-5. 

Tinnion (40) was next to fall to one that turned sharply as spin was introduced and Coppell fell soon after when Trego returned.

Matthew Boswell (32) and Harry Woolway (12*) attempted to rebuild, taking Shapwick from 71-8 to 117-8 before Trego accounted for the last two batsman, returning 5-42, with Willoughby’s 3-22 supporting the away teams bowling efforts.

Despite the low total, Shapwick knew early wickets could be vital and at 39-2, with Mason (2-16) accounting for both openers, the game was still in the balance. 

However, Trego took the game away from Shapwick with some brutal striking and a couple of half chances came and went which allowed the Somerset man to reach 50 from 29 balls. 

Luckins’ first ball had Trego caught on the boundary, however Weston cruised to victory inside 23 overs.

On Saturday, Shapwick travel to Taunton Deane.

WEPL Somerset
Wembdon 206 beat Uphill Castle 131 by 75 runs

WEMBDON welcomed Uphill Castle to The Green and, in bowler friendly conditions, Uphill won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Dan Bingham and Jack Lowe survived six overs until, with the score on 24, the lively G. Cox claimed his first victim of the day as Bingham (6) edged behind.

Sam Puddy looked in good touch, stroking a couple early boundaries and adding 34 for the second wicket with Lowe (19).

Lowe became Cox’s second victim as he was cleaned bowled, and Cox then bowled last week’s hero Jon Brockwell first ball before Brendan Pope was well held at gully off the very next delivery.

The game-changing hat-trick left Wembdon on the ropes at 58-4 from 13 overs.

Josh Henry joined Puddy, who had been a spectator to the chaos at the other end, and the pair added 20 before Puddy (26) was adjudged lbw while sweeping.

Liam Pigden (12) moved the score nearer 100 when he was caught.

Karl Trunks (24) blasted three sixes in a quick fire innings before being bowled whilst Henry still remained and looked a league above his team-mates.

Henry moved past 50 and, with valuable contributions from the middle/lower order, helped Wembdon move on to a competitive total.
Cox (4-21) bowled out his overs but the rest of the attack lacked his class.

Max Sellick made a valuable 14 late on, with Henry batting with five different partners on his way to a 1st XI top score of 75 not out.

Wembdon were eventually bowled out for 206 with nine overs remaining.

In reply the Uphill batters weren’t troubling the scorers too much, with Pope only going for 19 runs from six overs and skipper Brockwell conceding just five runs from his six overs.

Wickets were hard to come by until, in the 12th over, Brockwell got the breakthrough.

Henry claimed a wicket in his first over while James Annison bowled a fiery spell without reward.

Henry (3-46) picked up his second leaving Uphill 45-3 when a stand spreading seven overs and 35 runs moved the score along at a more positive rate.

Tim Bennett (4-26) had an immediate impact as he claimed four quick victims in as many overs, three clean bowled and the fourth caught behind.

Annison (2-32) returned to the attack to sweep up the tail as Uphill finished 131 all out from 34.5 overs.

WEPL Somerset
North Perrott 121-1 beat North Petherton 120 by 9 wkts

NORTH Petherton slipped to a heavy home defeat against a strong North Perrott side on Saturday.

Batting first, Pethy slipped to 27-4 and it took lower-order contributions from Tom Williams (25) and Lloyd Irish (27) to take them into three figures before they were bowled out for 120.

Aussie Ryan Meppem (1-21 from 10) was the only bowler to taste success in the chase as Perrott cruised home.

On Saturday, Pethy travel to Chard.

WEPL Somerset
Chard 134-9 tied with Bridgwater 2nds 134

TWO WEPL Somerset high-flyers played out a thrilling tie on Saturday as Bridgwater 2nds shared the spoils with Chard.

Bridgwater batted first and, having slipped to 37-6, were indebted to Daniel Rossiter’s excellent counter-attacking 68 to take them up to 134 all out.

In reply, Chard’s reply started steadily before they slipped from 43-2 to 43-5, two of which went to Matt Habberfield (4-10 from eight).

Danny Cleal and Chris Scott rebuilt, adding 44 for the sixth wicket before another cluster of wickets left Chard 103-8 with Bridgwater in the driving seat.

Scott remained at the crease, however, and finished unbeaten on 41 as his side finished their 39 overs on 134-9, meaning the scores were tied after a tense finish.

Rossiter added 2-33 to his earlier runs as Bridgwater picked up 10 points.

On Saturday, the 2nds host table-topping Minehead in what is likely to be a mouthwatering encounter (12.30pm).