WEPL Premier Two

Shapwick and Polden 224 lost to Lechlade 234-8 by ten runs

SHAPWICK and Polden remain rock bottom of WEPL Premier Two following an 11th league defeat of the season, despite the best efforts of Wayne Spencer.

Batting at number ten, Spencer smashed 71 from 54 balls to edge Shapwick towards only a second win of the season – but he was the last man out for the hosts with seven balls of the innings remaining, as Shapwick fell ten runs short of their target of 235.

Archie Dunning (37), Nayan Karmarkar and Steve Coppell (both 25) had put the hosts in a strong position – but a flurry of wickets in the middle-order undid a lot of the earlier good work, as Shapwick lost six wickets for just 29 runs to collapse to 111-8.

Dunning and Spencer put a halt to the tumbling wickets with a partnership of 85 for the ninth wicket, before the former was out stumped.

Spencer continued on his way and went past fifty with one of 12 boundaries in his innings.

At the other end, Michael Higgs (11no) was providing solid support and all of a sudden, Shapwick looked like they might snatch an unlikely win.

But with 11 runs needed from eight balls, Spencer was out bowled to condemn Shapwick to a dramatic defeat.

Earlier, Bradley Dial (104) scored a century for Lechlade to help them recover from 45-3 to 234-8 from their 50 overs.

James Haggett (2-25), Archie Dunning (2-31) and Steve Coppell (2-32) took two wickets apiece for Shapwick.

They travel to Weston-super-Mare this Saturday (July 26) – 12.30pm start.