CRICKET: Bridgwater overcome Potterne in West of England Premier League

BRIDGWATER made it three wins from four league games in May, with a convincing home win over Potterne, moving them up to second in the table, writes Scott Sealey.

The victory was set up by some good early partnerships surrounding an excellent innings from Bridgwater skipper Andrew Hallaran (60), and was clinically finished off by a match-turning spell by Somerset professional Max Waller (6-22), who ripped through the Potterne middle order.

Bridgwater were inserted on a sun-drenched day at The Parks and the early crowd were entertained by a bright start from the Bridgwater openers of Hallaran and Liam Kitch.

They punished anything loose with Kitch (14) looking in good touch; it was a surprise when he was bowled with the score on 36 in the sixth over.

This brought the in-form Calum Haggett to the wicket and he began in authoritative fashion with two boundaries.

Bridgwater, particularly Hallaran, were able to benefit from some loose Potterne bowling, which resulted in eight no balls being bowled, mainly early in the innings.

With Hallaran in good touch, Haggett (27) played watchfully and the pair added 77 for the second wicket before Haggett was adjudged lbw to Sri Lankan Wijeratne.

Hallaran’s innings was to end on 60 with eight fours and one six, when he pulled Afridi’s left-arm spin to Bromley’s hands on the leg-side boundary, leaving the game nicely poised at 121-3.

Jason Oakes and Stuart Butt began watchfully against the returning Akram, but Oakes soon found his timing and was to become the dominant partner in another good stand of 57, before he was adjudged lbw when well set on 42.

This then brought a home batting collapse as Waller (6), Butt (24), Davis (3) and Leonard (3) all fell in quick succession as Bridgwater fell from 178-3 to 202-8, handing the initiative to the visitors.

Scott Clapp, fresh from an outstanding performance in the previous week’s 2nd XI game, fought back with 35 runs for the final two wickets with Chris Singleton and Matt Habberfield, Bridgwater finishing on 237 all out.

Potterne had the worst possible start as Glamorgan’s Tom Cullen was cleaned up by Haggett for a duck, giving Bridgwater the early breakthrough needed.

David Bromley (33), Jake Goodwin (19) and Neil Clark (28) took the visitors to 78-2 in good time, and Potterne were very much in the game with the trial by spin likely to be the deciding factor in the game.

Waller was to win this final challenge convincingly as he began by dismissing Bromley, caught at slip, and then tore through the middle order with a succession of lbw shouts as the Potterne batsmen decided to play with their bats behind the pad, which cost them dear.

Ned Leonard (1-40), Haggett (1-17), Singleton (1-42) and Davis (1-11) all picked up a wicket apiece, but Waller was the star performer and match winner as Bridgwater dismissed their opponents before the 30-over mark, to pick up a convincing win.

Match sponsor: CRS Ltd; match ball sponsor: TMB Patterns Ltd.

On Saturday, Bridgwater travel to Lansdown while the 2nd XI host local rivals Wembdon in what should be an exciting derby.

On Thursday, Bridgwater Pointers host Ashbrittle (6.15pm start) in the first round of the SCB Minor Cup.

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WEPL Somerset Division
Taunton Deane 2nds 230-5 beat Bridgwater 2nds 226-9 by 5 wkts

BRIDGWATER 2nd XI took the short trip to Taunton Deane on Saturday, looking to make it three wins from three.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first – but the Deane’s opening bowler, Tom Walsh, got rid of the Bridgwater top three and they found themselves at 67-6 with Tom Pople (20) and Billy Vickery (39) at the crease and looking to fight back.

That partnership pushed the score up to 127 in a stand of 60 before Vickery eventually fell.

Daniel Rossiter and Kieran Windsor (23) accelerated the total, with Rossiter finishing unbeaten on 46 to set the Deane a competitive target of 226.

Ian Higgins (3-10) bowled superbly at the start of the hosts’ innings and they were struggling at 34-3.

Higgins bowled straight through and finished with figures of 3-10.

However, the Deane’s Nick Phillips (44) looked in complete control and was joined by Tom Hall.

They took the score on to 88, before Phillips was dismissed, then Harry Smith (40) and Russell Jones (42) saw the Deane home in the 46th over, handing Bridgwater their first league loss of the season.