WEPL Premier 1
Bristol 223-7 beat Bridgwater 164 by 59 runs

BRIDGWATER slipped to their third defeat in four matches this season as Bristol came away from The Parks victorious on Saturday.

Having put Bristol in upon winning the toss, Bridgwater watched visiting openers James Bracey and Lisle Durrans add 51 for the first wicket before Daniel Rossiter clean bowled Bracey for 31.

Somerset youngster Fin Trenouth joined Durrans but made just 17 before he was bowled by Andrew Skidmore, who then dismissed Will Young (3) in identical fashion.

When Andrew Roberts (1-9 off 10) then removed the patient Durrans for 36 from 92 balls, Bristol were 102-5 and Bridgwater had their tails up.

Valuable middle-order contributions from Louie Shaw and William Rudge (45) took the visitors towards 200, however, which they passed despite two further wickets for Rossiter (3-37) and Shaw hit three sixes in his unbeaten 47.

Chasing 224 to win, Bridgwater made a poor start with the bat and slumped to 33-4 as each of the top four came and went for single figure scores.

Soon it was 69-6, but Stuart Butt was digging in on his way to a half-century.

He was joined by captain Chris Skidmore, who struck two fours and four sixes in his 31-ball 39 as he and Butt took the side into three figures.

The hosts were always up against it, however, and Butt became the penultimate wicket to fall when he was stumped for 60 before Rossiter was run out to leave the hosts all out for 164.

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Ilminster 269-3 beat Shapwick & Polden 167 by 102 runs

SHAPWICK and Polden hosted Ilminster and, on winning the toss, captain Steve Tinnion made the only logical decision to field first in extremely bowler friendly conditions. 

This didn’t pay off, however, as Shapwick’s opening bowlers struggled for consistency in the early overs and Ilminster’s openers raced 30 in two overs.

The inconsistency with the ball was similar in the field with Kraucamp (105) dropped twice before reaching 30.

Finally Ben Rudge (2-37) removed Warry (81) to break Ilminster’s opening partnership of 184 and he then struck again to remove Kraucamp before the returning Steve Coppell (1-53) had Hurford (12) brilliant stumped down the leg side by recent Kiwi arrival Boswell.

Despite only three wickets being taken, the home side believed that 269 was not an insurmountable target and Tinnion got off to a brisk start, taking two boundaries off Montacute’s first over.

Montacute had his revenge soon after, however, when he trapped the home skipper in front on 17. 

Sam Edmunds looked in fine form before driving uppishly to short mid wicket off Grinter (1-34) for 10. 

Will Mason (25) and Wayne Spencer (28) added 43 for the third wicket at a decent rate giving their wickets away. 

John Stratton (21) followed suit, as the middle order folded to the spin of Thompson (3-32) and Davis (3-21). 

Coppell (30*) showed the top order what application can reward, but it was too little too late, as Shapwick were bowled out inside 46 overs for 167.

On Saturday, Shapwick and Polden host Bishopston.

WEPL Somerset
North Petherton 150-9 beat Uphill Castle 107 by 43 runs

NORTH Petherton won a low-scoring game at Uphill Castle on Saturday, successfully defending 150 with something to spare.

Opener Harry Bowditch made a vital 36 to guide his side to 150-9 from their 50 overs, with valuable contributions also coming from Adam Burns (29) and captain Paul Short (16).

The lower-order also chipped in with useful runs which proved crucial later on.

Uphill’s reply was built around a fine 62 from opening batsman Dayne Siede, who held the fort while wickets fell regularly at the other end.

As long as he was at the crease the hosts were in with a shout, but Siede eventually became one of four victims for Short, who ended with 4-23 from six overs.

The skipper was well backed up with the ball by Ryan Meppem (3-28), Lewis Knight (1-20) and Will Pope (2-31) as Pethy closed out victory by 43 runs midway through the 33rd over.

On Saturday, North Petherton host Yeovil.

WEPL Somerset
Wembdon 86-3 beat Staplegrove 82 by 7 wkts

Wembdon hosted Staplegrove and, having won the toss, the visitors won the toss and surprisingly chose to bat first in seamer friendly conditions.

Wembdon wasted no time getting amongst the wickets with Max Sellick bowling captain Ian Bishop in the third over. 

Sellick wasted no time picking up a second, bowling Grant Arden in his second over. 

James Annison had to ball at the pavilion end and was bowling a lively spell and got his well deserved reward in his third over as Henry Graydon edge behind.

This left Staplegrove 22-3 from six overs. 

With Kobe Adams at the crease Staplegrove attempted to rebuild, adding 40 runs before the fifth wicket fell. 

Adams, Staplegrove's top scorer and only batsman to reach double figures on his way to 24, was well bowled by the spin of Josh Henry whilst a superb run out by Karl Trunks removed Billy Pantling.

Henry (3-2) and Samuel Williams (2 for 11) ran through the lower order with Wembdon taking the final six Staplegrove wickets for just 21 runs leaving a depleted visiting side all out for 82 from 24 overs.

The innings was completed too soon for tea so Wembdon went straight back out to bat. 

Dan Bingham and Jack Lowe, having been watchful for the first handful of overs, then looked to attack as they shared an opening stand of 43 in nine overs. 

Lowe was the first to be dismissed for 13 when he was unfortunate to receive a high full toss that caught him by suprise.

Bingham had an early life as the wicket keeper put down a regulation chance but looking to capitalise and finish the game quickly went on to strike 11 boundaries on his way to 59. 

Dissapointingly, with the scores tied and needing just one to win, Bingham was caught.

It was left for skipper Jonathan Brockwell to hit the winning runs from the first ball of the 15th over, Wembdon winning by seven wickets.

WEPL Somerset
Frome 323-9 beat Bridgwater 2nds 231-9 by 92 runs

BRIDGWATER 2nds were beaten for the first time this season as Robin Lett inspired Frome to victory.

Former Somerset man Lett opened the batting for the hosts and, having added 123 for the first wicket with Paul Sanger (49), went on to plunder 137 from 123 balls with 18 fours and three sixes.

Bridgwater fought back well with the ball once Lett was dismissed, restricting the hosts to 323-9 after they had been flying on 280-2.

Tom Pople took 5-33 in three eventful overs, while Ian Higgins (2-30) also impressed.

Pople (10) then fell early, but Tom Bellinger (39) and Jonathan Vickery (16) built a solid second wicket stand to keep Bridgwater in contention.

Both fell with the score on 87, however, and a middle-order collapse saw the visitors reduced to 108-7.

The Habberfield duo, Ed and Matt, displayed defiance in a 99-run stand for the eighth wicket which ended when the former was bowled by Sanger for a fine 71.

Matt Habberfield hit three sixes in his 58 before he was caught, and Bridgwater were 92 runs shy of victory when their overs ran out.