WEPL Somerset Division
Wembdon 87-5 beat Minehead 86 by 5 wkts

ON Saturday, Wembdon welcomed Minehead to The Green, and claimed a five-wicket win to maintain third spot in the table.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, but Wembdon were happy to be bowling first under grey skies and a stiff breeze - conditions favourable for swing bowling.

Opening the bowling for Wembdon were Matt Hubbard and Jon Brockwell, and it didn’t take them long to get among the wickets.

Brockwell struck first, bowling overseas player Liam Muggeridge (1) in the third over, and in the eighth over Hubbard dismissed Andrew Stevens (7), aided by a superb low diving catch in the slips by skipper Brockwell.

Dan Bingham was introduced and, after removing Ian Buchanan (14) in his second over, went on to bowl arguably his best spell of the season. 

In the 17th over of the game (Bingham’s fifth) and the game evenly poised at 59-3, Bingham removed the Minehead middle order by taking three wickets in one over. 

Suddenly Minehead were on the ropes, made a whole lot worse when the spin of Josh Henry (2-25) got in on the act with two quick wickets.

Minehead’s day went from bad to worse when a suicidal run was attempted, and Sam Puddy threw for Jae Stone to gather and dismiss Greg Howard.

Minehead had now lost seven wickets for just 35 runs, and in his final over Bingham (5-17 from 9.1 overs) clean bowled Ellis Taylor (7) to end the Minehead innings on 86.

The Wembdon reply started solidly, as Bingham and Stone swiftly moved the score onto 40 without loss before the introduction of Buchanan’s spin claimed Stone’s wicket for 16.

Puddy played himself in after being absent for previous two games, before unleashing a monster six back over the bowler’s head.

The score moved on to 69, and with the result a formality Puddy (15) fell to a good catch at slip. 

Bingham had moved into the 20s when skipper Brockwell (9) strode to the crease for a quick cameo, launching back-to-back boundaries before mistiming one to Taylor, who hung onto a good catch.

Wembdon looked to get over the line in the 21st over, as Bingham (36) struck consecutive boundaries to bring the scores level, but with just one run needed for victory Jay Darrell had Bingham caught in the slips. 

The incoming Henry struck the required single at the end of the 22nd over to complete a resounding victory, which keeps Wembdon in third ahead of Saturday’s trip to Staplegrove.

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Som
Shapwick & Polden 260-6 beat Taunton Deane 114 by 146 runs

A MAJESTIC 145 from Shapwick & Polden opener Stephen Tinnion laid the foundations for his side’s thumping win over Taunton Deane on Saturday.

Tinnion’s knock was the glue that held the visiting innings together after they initially slipped to 35-3, while Steven Spencer (40) and Callum Haggett (25) also contributed.

The opener was eventually dismissed for a 133-ball 145, which included 14 fours and six 6s as Shapwick closed on 260-6.

That total proved to be far beyond the Deane, who lost wickets at regular intervals and were never truly in the hunt.

Spencer (3-33) added wickets to his earlier runs, while there were two scalps apiece for Steve Coppell (2-31), Harry Woolway (2-14) and Jacques Luckins (2-10) as the Deane were skittled for 114.

This Saturday, Shapwick host Glastonbury.

WEPL Somerset
North Petherton 264 beat Staplegrove 125 by 139 runs

BRAD Porteous continued his good season with 92 as North Petherton defeated Staplegrove on Saturday.

Porteous was ably supported by Liam Winter, who hit 72, as the hosts were bowled out for 264 from the final ball of their 50 overs.

All of the home attack then contributed to the successful defence of the total, with Will Pope (3-26) particularly influential and Lewis Knight, Lewis Irish and Winter picking up two wickets each as the visitors were dismissed for 125.

This Saturday, North Petherton travel to Bridgwater 2nds.