WEPL Premier 1
Bridgwater 301-9 beat Downend 300-9 by 1 wkt

YET another thriller at The Parks saw Bridgwater come out on the right side this time, as they chased down an imposing 300 set by a powerful Downend side.

After being inserted, the visitors got off to a flyer as the aggressive Ben Ford (60) and Nathan Roberts (88) put on 125 for the first wicket.

An excellent running catch on the mid-wicket boundary by Andy Skidmore off Ian Chauhan to remove Ford was Bridgwater’s only success before the drinks break at 25 overs, which arrived with Downend on 175-1.

The home side regrouped after the break and, supported by some outstanding fielding and catching, all the Bridgwater bowlers second and third spells were much more disciplined and brought just rewards.

Chris Skidmore (3-51), Andy Roberts (3-51) and Chauhan (3-58) kept the lid on Downend’s efforts as they looked to accelerate.

That only 125 runs were conceded in the last 25 overs on an excellent pitch with a lightning outfield and tight boundaries gave the hosts hope of a third successful run chase of over 300 this season.

Unfortunately, the Downend bowlers had other ideas as Oliver Curril nipped out Liam Kitch and the prolific Will Smeed with only 15 on the board.

At 64, further losses occurred as Andy Hallaran (28) was brilliantly caught at slip and Stu Butt was trapped in front for no score, both to Phil Jackson. 

Worse was to follow as Ed Habberfield fell to leave the home side in disarray at 89-5.

The cautious Chauhan was joined by Alli Witts and the pair were to turn their team’s fortunes around.  

After a steady start, Witts teed off in his trademark style, blasting 72 off only 45 balls with four sixes and eight fours as the pair added 104 to bring the large and supportive crowd alive. 

After Witts was well caught, Chris Skidmore continued his excellent batting form this season as he hit a run-a-ball 49 with four fours and four sixes as he and Chauhan added a further 91 in very quick time.

Chauhan moved smoothly to 101 (13 fours and a six) for his second century of the summer before being caught at mid-wicket, quickly followed by Andy Skidmore’s run out leaving the home side teetering on 289-9 needing 12 off the last two overs.

Ned Leonard and Andy Roberts were to see their side home, however, with the former smacking the first ball of the last over down the ground for six to the delight of the terrific home support.

With thanks to Match Sponsors Trelleborg and Match Ball Sponsors TMB Patterns Ltd.

Bridgwater host Frocester on Saturday (12.30pm).

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Shapwick & Polden 208-7 beat Bishopston 204-9 by 3 wkts

SHAPWICK & Polden came out on top in gritty encounter at Bishopston on Saturday thanks to Sam Edmunds’ brilliant 96.

Bishopston opted to bat first but were soon in trouble at 8-3 following a hostile opening spell from Fionn Hand (1-42) and Steve Coppell (3-41).

Harry Woolway (2-29) struck immediately and Ben Rudge (3-20) then took the important wicket of Tapper (22), well caught by Coppell at mid-on. 

Rudge’s second wicket left Bishopston 80-6 and Shapwick well on top but, as was the case the previous week, some good partnerships followed, with Taverner adding 42, and Hunter was 49* at the end of the innings having dragged their side to 204-9.

Captain Stephen Tinnion and Sam Edmunds started positively and put on 31 before Tinnion was caught at slip of the impressive Hunter (3-12). 

Will Mason added 6 but helped double the score to 62 before he was caught at point off Cook (2-41).

Wayne Spencer resisted his usual attacking intent, with both him and Edmunds showing great responsibility in taking the score to 151 before Spencer was trapped lbw by Ahmed (1-28). 

Edmunds continued on his way and hit 14 boundaries before he looked unfortunate to be trapped lbw by Hunter for a match-winning 96.

With the score 186-5, Hand put the game beyond doubt by hitting four consecutive fours in his 26, but fell with three needed. 

Rudge was bowled unluckily off his helmet without scoring, which left it to Coppell and Boswell to finish the game and collect 19 points, moving Shapwick to within five points of third in sixth.

Shapwick host bottom side Taunton on Saturday.

WEPL Somerset Division
Minehead 117-3 beat Wembdon 113 by 7 wkts

WEMBDON’s batting woes returned after a two-week hiatus following a seventh consecutive lost toss.

Put in to bat at home to Minehead, the innings got off to a poor start with Dan Bingham edging the ball to the Minehead wicket keeper in the second over.

Fifteen-year-old Tom Brooks was joined at the crease by the more senior Sam Puddy and the pair ran positively between the wickets helping Wembdon to 42-1 from 10 overs.

Thereafter, there wasn’t too much to be excited by as Brooks (15) and Puddy (24) were out.

Dangerman Jon Brockwell departed for five, finding the fielder on deep square leg boundary, and the in-form Josh Henry followed for 6.

Wembdon lost four wickets for 28 runs in 10 overs with all the top five batters caught and Ellis Taylor the pick of the Minehead bowling, claiming three quick wickets.

Wembdon needed some assistance from the youthful lower order.

Will Anning provided some much-needed runs and played a classy knock, reaching 31 to help Wembdon pass 100. 

Disappointingly, he was run out at the non-striker’s end with the bowler getting a fortunate finger on the ball deflecting it on to the stumps.

There were no lower order runs of note thereafter with Wembdon’s last five batters accumulating 17 runs between them as Stephen Hayes (2-25), Andy Woodward (2-14) and Ian Buchanan (1-5) finished off the tail.

Minehead progressed to 25 from five overs before Wembdon brought on the spin of Josh Henry in the fifth over just before tea.

He instantly brought the first wicket as Angus Marsh looked to get off strike only for Tim Bennett to gather the ball cleanly at point and run out Buchanan (14).

Following the tea break, Minehead started the brighter with Marsh (29) square cutting to the boundary with ease.

Dan Godfrey wasted no time in showing his intent scoring 16 quick runs, all in boundaries, but Henry trapped him LBW.

Henry bowled well, taking 1-25 from nine overs, but little else troubled the Minehead batsmen as Alastair Harrison (9no) and Matt Sully (40no) shared a half-century stand to carry Minehead home in the 23rd over.

Wembdon host Yeovil on Saturday.

The club thanks match sponsors Maxwells Chartered Accountants and Liz Awty.

WEPL Somerset Division
North Petherton 169-6 beat Yeovil 168 by 4 wkts

NORTH Petherton consolidated their mid-table position with this victory at strugglers Yeovil on Saturday.

Put in to bat, Yeovil lost wickets regularly as Jordan Boobyer (3-52) and Ryan Meppem (2-29) took control.

Only William Chesterman (28) and Mark Mitchell (33) made any real headway as Paul Short (3-31) finished off the innings at 168.

Although missing out on the wickets, Lewis Knight kept things in check with a fine 10-over spell of 0-23 and Scott Briffett ended the innings with 2-25 off 8.4.

It was Lewis Irish who anchored the reply against the modest total on a bowler-friendly wicket.

The opener hit eight fours but fell just two runs short of a half-century.

Pethy made steady progress to their target thereafter with Max Trevarthan adding 20 and Meppem chipping in with 17.

Tom Williams (17no) came in to see the innings out but it was the batting of Knight which put the result beyond double.

He came in to hit an unbeaten 35, with two fours and three sixes hurrying along the total to 169-6 in the 40th over.

Yeovil’s Mark Mitchell produced the excellent figures of 3-11 off 10 but it was not enough to save his side from defeat.

North Petherton are at home to second-placed Frome on Saturday (12.30pm start).

WEPL Somerset
North Perrott 301-9 beat Bridgwater 2nds 194 by 107 runs

BRIDGWATER 2nds were comfortably beaten at league leaders North Perrott on Saturday.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat, three of Perrott’s top four cashed in as George Retter (65), Alex Eckland (55) and, most significantly, Jack Henderson (100) made it hard work for Bridgwater’s bowlers.

Daniel Rossiter (3-33 from eight) was the pick of the attack as Perrott ended their 50 overs on 301-9.

Bridgwater lost regular wickets in reply and slipped to 97-6 before Scott Clapp (33) and Sethan Locke (46) provided resistance down the order.

The visitors lost their final wicket on 194 from the penultimate ball - they travel to struggling Staplegrove on Saturday.