WEPL Premier One

Bridgwater 145 lost to Taunton St Andrews 146-2 by eight wickets

CONDITIONS dominated proceedings in the first match of Bridgwater’s Premier One campaign as they were outplayed by Taunton St Andrews on a dreary afternoon at the Parks.

The visitors won the crucial toss and unsurprisingly, elected to field first with the rain clouds gathering overhead.

Following a short rain delay, Bridgwater began the league season at a high tempo with Merv Hallaran and Chris Gange dispatching the bad ball with ease in the early overs.

Hallaran was soon dismissed, but Mitch Windsor and Gange began rebuilt the innings, until Windsor was caught well at point with the score on 45-2 off just seven overs.

South African import Daniel van der Berg joined Gange at the crease and built a steady partnership before he holed to a full toss.

Gange (44) continued to look comfortable at the crease – but a combination of quality leg spin bowling from Bell (5-33) and poor shot selection saw the home team collapse to 109-8.

Montgomery was the last man to fall on 33 after not connecting with a slog sweep, and Bridgwater were all out in the 35th over for just 145.

Ian Higgins and Chris Skidmore beat the bat on a few occasions in the early overs to no avail before a second rain delay – and upon their return to the field the seam bowlers noticeably struggled with the slippery conditions.

Skidmore made the breakthrough shortly after the break, but there was not much for the Bridgwater supporters to cheer as Regan and Contreras easily guiding the visitors to the target in just 25 overs.

Bridgwater performed well under-par and will need to bounce back quickly as they face newly promoted Clevedon next Saturday.