WEPL Premier 1
Bath 210-9 beat Bridgwater 209 by one wicket

BRIDGWATER came within a whisker of defeating league leaders Bath at North Parade on Saturday before going down by just one wicket in a close-fought encounter.

Somerset batsman Tim Rouse, who made his First Class debut in the County Championship victory at Yorkshire last week, played the critical innings as he carried his bat for 84 not out to see the hosts over the line.

Having chosen to bat, Bridgwater lost skipper Merv Hallaran for 7 before Tom Lace and Todd Barrett fell in consecutive deliveries to leave the visitors 22-3.

George Bartlett held the innings together with a run-a-ball 74, which included seven 4s and two 6s, but when he fell Bridgwater were in trouble at 136-7 and in need of some lower order contributions.

They came courtesy of Will Williams (59*) and Liam Redrup (15), who added 65 for the last wicket to take the away side to a competitive total of 205-9.

Chris Skidmore took the new ball for Bridgwater and started strongly, removing skipper James Campbell (10) and Gloucestershire batsman George Hankins for a duck to reduce the hosts to 22-2.

Rouse was proving the key man, however, and added 63 for the fourth wicket with Tom Hankins (43) before a useful partnership of 41 with Sam Mount (23).

Bridgwater took regular wickets to keep themselves in the hunt, with Skidmore returning to finish with 3-28 from 10 overs and Will Williams (2-31) also impressing, but Rouse proved impossible to displace.

He almost ran out of partners, with Bath still requiring 13 to win when last man Bobby Cave strode out to join Rouse, but the leaders edged over the line despite a valiant Bridgwater effort.

This Saturday, Bridgwater are back on home soil against Frocester.

BRIDGWATER 2nds cruised past struggling Temple Cloud by 152 runs in the Somerset Division.

Jonathan Vickery had a day to remember, hitting 18 fours and a six on his way to 116 as Bridgwater ended their 50 overs on 255-8.

Vickery’s was the dominant contribution, but John Hill (30*) and Chris Gange (28) also chipped in with valuable runs in the imposing total.

Temple Cloud never threatened to get close in their reply, and the wickets were shared around the Bridgwater attack.

Scott Clapp (2-27) got the ball rolling by dismissing both openers, and Kyran Devitt (3-21) and Matt Habberfield (3-18) ensured the victory was sealed with ease.

Bridgwater claimed 22 points from the victory and sit fourth in the table ahead of Saturday’s derby at third-placed Wembdon.