WEPL Premier 1 - Bridgwater 307-9 beat Keynsham 226 by 81 runs

A CENTURY from Bridgwater captain Mike Coles helped his side to a comfortable victory over Keynsham as they rounded off their season in style.

Coles struck 133 from just 108 balls as Bridgwater amassed 307-9 from their 50 overs, before Chris Skidmore (3-20) and Todd Barrett (3-40) took three wickets apiece as Keynsham were bowled out for 226 in the 46th over.

Batting first, openers Merv Hallaran (35) and Coles got the Bridgwater innings off to a flying start as the pair put on 95 for the first wicket, before the former was stumped off the bowling of Weller.

Windsor (25) and Gange (16) both got starts for the hosts, but it was Coles at the other end who was doing the majority of the damage.

The opener struck 12 4s and ten 6s in his brutal assault on the Keynsham bowling, despite a lack of support from the rest of the batsmen.

Coles brought up his century with another maximum and passed 800 runs for the season shortly after.

When he was the fifth man out with the score on 237, the innings threatened to peter out but Andrew Skidmore (17), Todd Barrett (17no) and Ian Bishop (15) added late cameos to carry Bridgwater past the 300- mark.

Needing just over six runs per over, Keynsham got off to the worst possible start as Chris Skidmore clean bowled Bancroft (9) with the score on 22.

Keynsham rebuilt with a second-wicket partnership of 42 but Skidmore’s second and third wickets of the afternoon put an end to the visitors’ hopes.

Todd Barrett (3-40) removed the dangerous Wakefield (45), before Drake (2-35) chipped in with a couple of middle-order wickets.

Worgan (32) gave the innings an element of respectability with some late hitting but Stuart Butt (2-19) wrapped up the victory with two quick-fire wickets as Bridgwater sealed a fifth-place finish in WEPL Premier 1.