WEPL Somerset Division
Wembdon 264-6 (revised target) beat Chard 278-7 by four wickets

HALF centuries from Liam Pigden, Sam Puddy and Jonathan Brockwell helped Wembdon to a third consecutive league victory as they saw off Chard on Saturday.

The visitors opted to bat first in search of their first victory of the campaign, but lost opener Nathan Johnson (4) in the fifth over as Brockwell made the breakthrough.

Chard progressed to 58-1 from 20 overs but, from then on, increased their rate and some uncharacteristically poor fielding cost Wembdon dearly.

Wembdon had to wait 25 overs to claim the second wicket when, after a 119-run partnership with Matthew Micale, captain Jonathan Scott departed for 65.

Josh Henry, Karl Trunks and Jack Lowe claimed three quick wickets as Chard reached 158-4 after 35 overs.

Opening bowlers Dan Bingham and Brockwell returned for the final six overs, both claiming wickets, with Micale eventually caught for 112 as Chard completed their 50 overs on 272-7.

A daunting run chase lay ahead for Wembdon and Bingham departed early, chipping the ball to mid-off.

A short rain break disrupted proceedings and the game had been reduced to a 44-over match, with Wembdon’s target adjusted to 262.

Jae Stone (15) departed in the eighth over with Wembdon on 42, which brought Brockwell to the crease to partner Sam Puddy.

The pair batted with intent, looking to attack the Chard bowlers, and boundaries started to come frequently as Puddy reached 53 off just 33 balls before being adjudged lbw.

A match-defining stand of 111 between incoming batsman Liam Pigden and skipper Brockwell for the fifth wicket dragged Wembdon into a winning position.

Some woeful Chard catching cost them as Brockwell rode his luck on his way to 64, an innings which included four 6s.

Pigden batted maturely for his maiden 1st XI half-century, arguably his best performance in a Wembdon shirt.

With six wickets in hand, Wembdon required 51 off the final 10 overs and, when Brockwell was eventually stumped, Wembdon had reached 240.

Pigden was run out in the following over for 74 but the hosts, requiring 11 from five overs, only needed two as Trunks (21*) cleared the boundary on two occasions including the final hit to claim victory for Wembdon with three overs and four wickets in hand.

This victory moves Wembdon up to third in the table ahead of the visit of second-placed Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.