WEPL Somerset Division

Bridgwater 2nd XI 139-6 beat North Petherton 138 by 4 wkts

IT was derby day at The Parks as North Petherton won the toss and decided to bat first.

Bridgwater made the early breakthrough as Kieran Windsor (1-17) struck in his first over.

From North Petherton at 31-3, Paul Short (20) and Lewis Knight began to push the score up, putting on 55 for the fourth wicket.

Scott Clapp broke the partnership and Lewis Knight was dismissed by Tom Bellinger for a fine 50.

Clapp finished his brilliant spell with 3-19 and Bellinger (4-48) cleaned up the tail as North Petherton were all out for 138.

Ben Meek ripped through the Bridgwater top order as he took four wickets and left the hosts in a lot of bother at 20-5, Ali Zaryab Asif (1-43) picking up the other wicket.

This brought Tom Pople and Seth Locke batted eight overs for an important partnership of 24.

Scott Clapp was the next man in and he and Tom Pople (39no) were faultless in their batting as they knocked off the runs in the 32nd over.

Clapp finished was unbeaten on 64 from just 53 balls - a quite brilliant display of hitting.

On Saturday, Bridgwater travel to Taunton Deane 2nds and Pethy host Yeovil.

North Petherton had better luck in the cups last week.

Owen Irish hit five sixes in his 50 not out as Pethy beat Taunton St Andrew’s by eight wickets in the Baker Cup last Monday.

On Thursday, Lloyd Irish top scored with 45 as Pethy knocked Wembdon out of the SCB Major Cup, winning by 27 runs.

WEPL Somerset Division

Wembdon 135-6 beat Taunton Deane 2nds 134 by 4 wkts

WEMBDON bounced back from the previous weekend's defeat, with a four-wicket win at home to Taunton Deane 2nd XI on Saturday.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first; Wembdon were not consistent enough with the ball in the early exchanges, and Deane's openers made them pay.

Nick Phillips (13) and A. Warren (16), aided by too many wides, took the away side to 41, at which point Brendan Pope got the breakthrough by trapping Warren lbw.

The second wicket came much quicker, as with the score still on 41 James Annison accounted for Phillips, Hubbard taking a sharp catch at backward point.

Deane had a period of consolidation, before Sam Burgess capitalised on a handful of Pope short deliveries to strike four consecutive boundaries.

Wembdon replied by introducing the consistent seam of Max Sellick and overseas off-spinner Nkululeko Serame.

Both bowlers bowled very economically throughout their 10 over spells, and Sellick had an immediate impact in taking the wicket of Burgess (20).

The hosts began to restrict Deane now, and as the pressure mounted wickets fell at regular intervals.

Serame's spin was unsettling the batters, with only the experienced Russell Jones looking comfortable.

With batters keen to get to the non-striker's end as quickly as possible, a mix-up occurred and a sharp run out from Tom Lot removed Jones (12).

With the Deane skipper gone at 101-5, Serame had Dave Jones caught, Sellick bowled Stone and Deane's positive start unravelled.

Serame (2-23 from 10 overs) and Sellick (2-24 from 10) bowled their allotted overs straight through and were replaced by Matt Hubbard and Dan Bingham.

The latter only managed one over, though, as Hubbard wrapped up the tail with three wickets in two overs, going for just two runs.

Taunton Deane losing their final five wickets for just 34 runs represented an excellent fightback from Wembdon.

Come the reply, Bingham went early for the second week running, with a fine edge through to the keeper.

However, Lott and Serame were not phased by the early loss and quickly added 20 from three overs.

The slow right arm of Burgess enticed Serame, who found the mid-off fielder to leave Wembdon 40-2.

Lott was going well, though, and joined by the dangerous Jonathan Brockwell kept the scoreboard moving at a good pace.

Lott found the boundary with ease, but then mis-timed one and fell to Tom Burgess for 45 (from 38 balls, including 10 fours).

Brockwell and the in-form Pigden were now at the crease and some quick running, along with regular boundaries, moved the game along.

Wembdon were one short of their century when Brockwell (22) went looking for the boundary once more, only to find mid-on similar to Lott.

The Deane rotated their bowlers but not much troubled the Wembdon middle order as Pigden made his way to 33 and Wembdon were in sight of victory.

Pigden then received a head-height delivery which the umpire deemed legal as Pigden was disappointingly caught in the deep.

His partner Jack Lowe was soon run out and Wembdon were stumbling on 127-6.

The incoming Mike Watts wasn't going to hang around, though, and immediately struck two fours and a six to bring up the Wembdon victory with 22 overs remaining.

The result lifts Wembdon up to fourth, one point behind Frome, who host Wembdon this Saturday.

Match Sponsors: Gary Parker Carpentry & Ian Falconer