West of England Premier League
Premier 1
Downend 201-5 beat Bridgwater 197 by 5 wkts

BRIDGWATER slipped into the bottom two in WEPL Premier 1 after going down by five wickets at Downend on Saturday.

Somerset’s Max Waller was available and opened the batting for the visitors, but both Waller (13) and opening partner Andrew Hallaran (1) were back in the pavilion with the scoreboard reading 26.

Waller’s county team-mate George Bartlett joined forces with overseas player Ian Dev Chauhan to lead a recovery, the pair adding 47 runs before Bartlett was lbw to Phil Jackson for 20.

Chauhan displayed patience in his 66, which came from 101 balls and included 11 fours, but no-one could stick with him and Chauhan was the ninth wicket to fall with the score on 181.

Bridgwater’s total of 197 all out, which was boosted by 37 extras, ensured they needed early wickets in reply, and Chris Skidmore (2-58) delivered.

He dismissed both openers, clean bowled, to leave the hosts struggling on 8-2, but Sam Harper and Brandon Gilmour steadied the ship to frustrate the visitors.

The pair had taken the score to 100 when Chris Singleton (1-29) had Harper caught by Andrew Skidmore for 60, and Ned Leonard (2-32) removed Ben Loud shortly afterwards to leave the hosts 104-4.

Though Leonard clean bowled Gilmour two short of his half-century, Callum Loud (35no) and Joe Dryell (30no) saw Downend home with 8.1 overs to spare.

This Saturday, Bridgwater travel to Frocester (12.30pm start).

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WEPL Somerset Division
North Perrott 149-1 beat Bridgwater II 147 by 9 wkts

BRIDGWATER 2nds were well beaten by North Perrott at The Parks in WEPL Somerset.

Having been put in upon losing the toss, Bridgwater’s first four each made starts but no-one could progress past Todd Barrett’s top score of 30 as Stacy Hawes (3-33) removed each of the top three.

The middle order then succumbed to Lorraine Szczepanski (4-23), with only Daniel Rossiter (27) offering much in the way of resistance as Bridgwater were bowled out for 147.

Rossiter came on at first change to have George Retter (8) caught by Liam Kitch, but that was as good as it got with the ball for the hosts.

Seven bowlers were tried in the search for further breakthroughs, which didn’t arrive, as Gordon Whorlow (54no) and Alex Eckland (62no) took the visitors home inside 35 overs.

On Saturday, Bridgwater 2nds host Staplegrove, who picked up their first win of the season over the weekend.