WEPL 2nd XI Premier 1

Bridgwater 240-7 beat Taunton St Andrew’s 166-7 by 74 runs

BRIDGWATER were inserted by the home side and lost both Stu Butt (3) and Liam Kitch (18) with 43 on the board in eight overs, with rain reducing the game to 41 overs per side.

Taunton St Andrew’s bowlers conceded a number of extras as skipper Scott Sealey joined Josh Vickery and they set about building a match-winning partnership to give their side a strong base to work from.

Sealey became the aggressor, upping the tempo with two straight 6s, however it was Vickery who fell first, caught and bowled by off-spinner Tom Poole for a well-made 54 including eight 4s. The stand for the third wicket was worth 144 in 23 overs.

Sealey followed with five overs remaining for a polished 72 – an excellent knock from the captain to put his side in the ascendency. The remaining batting chased quick runs on a slow wicket to finish on 240-7.

In reply, Bridgwater’s bowlers started well to put Taunton St Andrew’s under pressure. Chris Singleton got the breakthrough, dismissing the dangerous Martin Jenkins lbw, and Ian Higgins also bowled well in a superb new ball partnership.

The introduction of Scott Clapp and Andrew Skidmore kept on the pressure, both giving nothing away and, at drinks, the home side had stalled at 64-2 from 21 overs.

Clapp picked up the prize wicket of Brian Hoyle, bowled for 35, with the first ball after drinks. With Skidmore (2-36) wheeling away from the bottom end with a very good spell of spin bowling in helpful conditions, Bridgwater were firmly on top and claimed seven wickets for the extra bonus points as the visitors closed on 166-7.

The 2nds would like to thank umpire Alan Prowse, scorer Ken Stanton, coach Sean Boobyer, match ball sponsors TMB Patterns LTD, match travel sponsors Falcon Vehicle Solutions and HIGOS Insurance Services LTD.