WEPL Premier 1 - Ashcott & Shapwick 121-4 beat Ilminster 120 by 6 wkts

ASHCOTT and Shapwick ensured they would be playing Premier 1 cricket next season with a six-wicket victory over Ilminster.

James Hayman took four wickets as Ilminster were bowled out for 120 in the 43rd over, before Dan Cooper (53) eased Ashcott to a comfortable victory.

After electing to bat first, Ilminster found themselves 18-4 as the Ashcott bowlers got to work on the top order.

Ilminster’s innings failed to recover from a poor start, as Ashcott tore through the middle and lower order to dismiss their opponents for a modest total.

Ashcott played fluently in reply and scored freely, with opener Dan Cooper playing an aggressive knock at the top of the order.

It was left to captain Steve Tinnion to hit the winning runs, with a succession of boundaries as his side reached their target in just 23 overs.

The victory saw Ashcott move up to sixth behind Bridgwater as Ilminster, without a win all season, were condemned to relegation to Premier 2.

WEPL 2nd XI Premier 1 - Ashcott & Shapwick 176 lost to Weston-super-Mare 178-7 by 3 wkts

ASHCOTT and Shapwick II relegation from Premier 1 was confirmed by a three-wicket defeat to Weston on Saturday.

Batting first, Ashcott and Shapwick got off to a good start thanks to a century opening partnership between Will Rudge (53) and James Spearing (27).

But this was followed by the all-too-familiar middle order collapse, from 133-5 to 176 all out.

With the visitors’ score at 122-6, the game was in the balance but some aggressive batting by the Weston lower order saw them home with three wickets and eight overs to spare and secured their place in the division next season.