AN unbeaten 73 from skipper Nathan Barnard was not enough to save Middlezoy from defeat against Temple Cloud in the Shrubbery Hotel Somerset League Premier Division on Saturday.

Barnard fought a lone battle as wickets fell regularly before reaching 207 all out.

When Cloud replied, Miles Hackett put the Zoy bowlers to the sword, hitting an unbeaten 114 in tandem with Simon Curtis’ 51 as they reached their target in just 22 overs.

Shapwick & Polden 2s totted up a big 291-4 as in-form Tom Smith (89no) and James Haggett (59) cut loose against lowly Ashbrittle.

The Brittle reply featured 55 from Rob Hill but they were all out for 184 as Tom Barr took 4-53 in 9.

In Division 2, Bridgwater 3s were in hot form against Weston 2s.

Put in to bat, all Bridgwater’s batsmen set about the bowling, with Dominic Court and Daniel Andison hitting 60s out of 317-6.

Weston wilted to 89 all out as James Duckering took 5-26 in 7.

North Newton kept their promotion hopes alive in Division 3 with a five-wicket win in a low-scorer at Huish & Langport.

Huish batted first but found James White (5-12 off 7) almost unplayable, with Chris Wadham and Mile Barham taking two apiece as the home side slid to 51 all out.

The reply was not a formality, though, as Huish bowlers Wayne Chapman (3-10 off 9) and Terry Crocker (2-22 off 9) were rewarded for some fine bowling.

However, the Newts passed the paltry target with five wickets in hand.

Wembdon 2s travelled to Kilve and returned home with a five-wicket win after chasing down the home side’s 209-6.

Chris James (68) and the in-form Carl Clemenson (73no) starred with the bat for Kilve.

Wembdon’s reply was based on a fine opening stand by Daniel Watts (66) and Carwyn Jenkins (54), who set up a relatively comfortable victory with three overs to spare.

In Division 6N, Shapwick & Polden 3s suffered a big defeat at the hands of fellow promotion hopers Horrington.

Put in to bat at home, Shapwick lost wickets at an alarming rate and only a fine half-century from Theo Spring averted a below-ton total.

As it was, Shapwick were all out for 136, then visiting openers Tom Wood (37no) and Mike Fear (89no) coasted home in just 23 overs.

Wembdon Wyverns welcomed Churchill in Division 6N but fell short of a mediocre target.

The visitors were all out for 160 as Daniel James-Stone (3-49 off 8) headed a competent bowling attack.

Wembdon set off positively with James-Stone (32), Keith Futcher (34) and Aaron Hold (23) in good form, but, thereafter, it was all down hill as Ben Corfield (4-19) demolished the middle order.

Leaders Spaxton suffered a defeat at the hands of mid-table Sparkford after failing to defend their total of 200-6 in Division 6S.

A fine, unbeaten 94 by Dan Rich was the feature of Spaxton’s innings but half-centuries from Jan Den Hartog and Mark Smith set up the victory.

Richard Baker bowled well to take 2-15 off 7.

Middlezoy 2s resisted a strong Taunton Deane 3s attack for 31 overs but were all out for 71 as Jake Sparkes top scored with 22.

The Deane openers Shayaan Akhtar (21no) and Nick Phillips (28no) saw their team to victory in under 10 overs.

In Division 8N, Wembdon 4s took a surprisingly heavy beating at Churchill 2s.

Electing to bat first, Churchill’s openers were in imperious form, with Ben Whitcombe (109) and David Eckett (128no) making light of the visiting attack, totting up 334-2 in their 40 overs.

It was all too much for Wembdon, who were rolled over for 100 in 29 overs.