WEPL Premier 1 - Bridgwater 119 lost to Frocester 121-4 by 6 wkts

A POOR batting display condemned Bridgwater to a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Frocester on Saturday, as they slipped to their seventh defeat of the season.

Bridgwater could only muster 119 batting first, with only Gange (30) and Bishop (28no) scoring anything of significance as they were bowled out in just 29 overs.

In reply, Frocester recovered from 5-2 to cruise home four wickets down, inside 22 overs.

After being asked to bat first, Bridgwater’s innings never recovered from a disastrous start, which saw Coles (2), Windsor (4) and Kitch (7) all fall for single figures and Bridgwater reduced to 23-3.

Butt (6), Barrett (0) and Andrew Skidmore (0) followed shortly after as 23-3 became 62-7 thanks to the bowling of the destructive Herman, who finished with six wickets.

Montgomery (17) and a late cameo from Bishop gave the scorecard some respectability but, by the time Drake had been caught off the bowling of Lewis, Bridgwater had limped along to 119.

To stand any chance of salvaging the unlikeliest of victories, Bridgwater required early wickets and that’s exactly what they got when Bishop (2-21) removed both Quereshi and O’Doherty in the early stages.

Chris Skidmore, fresh from wicket-taking form for the Unicorns, clean bowled Bracey to make it 61-3, and when Beard was trapped in front by Montgomery, the visitors will have felt like they had a sniff.

But Wand (70no) put an end to any hopes of victory with a fluent half-century as Frocester sailed home in comfortable fashion.

Bridgwater will be looking to end the season on a high when they entertain second-from-bottom Keynsham at The Parks on Saturday.

BRIDGWATER A’s quest for the Somerset League Division 2 title was put on hold on Saturday when they lost by four wickets to second-placed Bagborough.

Batting first, A. Hewson hit a fine 94 and M. Osmant 49 as Bridgwater reached 220-8.

Bagborough’s winning reply was led by J. Bishop who hit an unbeaten 87 as all but one of their batsmen reached double figures.

T. Hill was the pick of the Bridgwater bowlers, taking 2-50.

Bridgwater, with two games remaining, and an 18-point lead at the top, are at home to Cheddar on Saturday.