Cricket: Bridgwater 2ndXI 186 beat Taunton St Andrews 2ndXI 170 by 16 runs (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Cricket: Bridgwater 2ndXI 186 beat Taunton St Andrews 2ndXI 170 by 16 runs

7:05pm Tuesday 30th August 2011 in Local Cricket

Bridgwater continued their winning form as Tim Hill was the hero for the home side, taking 5-44 in a 16-run victory over Taunton St Andrew's.

Stand-in captain Tom Pople lost the toss and a much-changed Bridgwater side were put into bat in a shower of drizzling rain.

The Saints got off to a dream start as Lawrence dismissed Kyran Devitt in the third over. With Bridgwater at 4-1, the in-form Ben Whitemore strode to the crease and, working with the ever impressive Liam Kitch, the pair took the score to 34.

Kitch was caught at backward point but it was the next partnership which would be the key for Bridgwater. Ally Witts stabilised the innings and saw Bridgwater maintain their high run rate.

With the total at 97-2, Whitemore (36) and Witts (44) both fell to loose shots to the spin pairing on Barrett (1-57) and Driver (2-33) respectively, which left Bridgwater at 113-4 at the half-way stage.

Andy Skidmore and skipper Pople set about rebuilding the innings, punishing any bad deliveries. In another collapse of wickets, Skidmore was bowled by Driver for 10 and Ed Berry was run out with Bridgwater now 147-6 from 33.

More spin was introduced in a bid to stifle the Bridgwater scoring rate and Poole (3-11) took two wickets in his first over. The vital wicket of Pople, who played well for his 26, was the first to fall, shortly followed by Chris Singleton.

Bridgwater were now 160-8, disappointing after a strong start. However, a late cameo from Kieran Windsor saw much-needed boundaries and allowed Bridgwater to post a defendable 186.

The Saints' reply began well as some hard hitting from Parsons saw the away side reach 50 in the first nine overs. However, two wickets in an over from the impressive Tim Hill shifted the momentum in Bridgwater's favour. The dangerous Parson (36) was removed by an outstanding catch from Witts and another wicket in Hill's next over saw the Saints reduced to 58-3.

Windsor replaced Hill and maintained the pressure; Whitemore was also brought into the attack and was to have an immediate impact taking three wickets in his first two over to reduce the Saints to 75-6 after 17 overs, and taking the important wicket of Barrett for 26.

Windsor took the seventh wicket to a good, low catch from Kieran Devitt bringing Clatworthy to the crease. The Saints needed 97 runs with just three wickets remaining but, batting in partnership with Driver, Clatworthy timed the ball well and saw the Saints edge closer to their target.

Skipper Pople saw it was time for a change and youngster Hill along with left-arm seamer Chris Singleton pulled the game back as Pople claimed a superb one-handed catch behind to dismiss Clatworthy (37).

Poole was then run out for six and with the score on 156-9, Saints needed 30 runs from 13 overs.

Hill was to be the match-winner when he took the final wicket thanks to Kitch's sharp catch.