WEPL Somerset

Wembdon 182 beat Minehead 164 by 18 runs

WEMBDON dodged the showers to return from Minehead with a much-needed victory on Saturday.

Minehead won the toss and asked Wembdon to bat first - the first time Wembdon have done so all season.

The opposition chose to open the bowling with Buchanan’s wrist spin and were fortunate to get the wicket of Jon Brockwell, who was given out caught.

Tom Lott and Jack Lowe then added 22 in five overs for the second wicket before the latter was caught off a Darren Sherring inswinger.

Lott played a more watchful innings than of late as he battled to 15 from 42 balls before Sherring claimed his second wicket.

The youthful Tom Brooks was looking in excellent touch against spin, however the introduction of Ellis Taylor’s pace saw him sharply caught at gully.

At 59-4 the game was evenly poised and Dan Bingham joined Nkululeko Serame who worked hard to lay a platform but, just after his seventh boundary, Serame was trapped in front for an important 40.

Bingham started to rotate the strike with more efficiency and, aided by Liam Pigden (10) and a blistering cameo from Mike Watts (21), moved the score along to a more respectable 154.

After a couple of quick wickets and brief rain delay, Wembdon’s final wicket fell at 182 with an over remaining, leaving Bingham unbeaten on 42.

After tea, Wembdon looked to restrict Minehead but Ian Buchanan motored away, though Brockwell removed his partner Angus Marsh (4) in the ninth over.

Buchanan reached his half-century and, joined by Kiwi captain Phillip Barraclough, took Minehead to 92-1.

After regrouping, Wembdon got the key breakthroughs as Serame took two wickets in three balls, bowling Buchanan for 57 and finding the edge of Harrison’s bat for a duck.

Lott (2-20 from 10) then removed Bowditch and Taylor for single figure scores and Minehead were unravelling while the skipper watched on.

Bingham got the wicket of Wilson in his first over before Serame (4-34) bowled Tully and Tudball - Minehead had lost seven wickets for 39 runs in an incredible turnaround.

Sherring struck two sixes in a quick 21 before he was trapped lbw by Brockwell and then, with 19 needed, Barraclough chipped a return catch back to Bingham (2-26) to seal a vital win for Wembdon.

Wembdon host Wellington this Saturday at The Green (12.30pm).

Match Sponsors: Maxwells Chartered Accountants

WEPL Somerset Division

Frome 173-9 beat North Petherton 68 by 105 runs

NORTH Petherton failed to build on the previous weekend’s win over Chard as they succumbed to a heavy defeat at Frome on Saturday.

The day started well for the visitors, who won the toss and inserted their opponents in bowler-friendly conditions.

Ben Meek (2-38 from 10) picked up two early wickets but former Somerset batsman Robin Lett proved the key man as his experience told.

Ali Zaryab Asif picked up useful middle order wickets on his way to fine figures of 3-17 from 10 overs but Lett continued to impress before eventually falling to Farran Gregory (1-37 from 10) for 82, a critical innings in the context of the game.

Valuable late runs from Mark Watts (17) and Neil Dredge (27*), numbers nine and 10 respectively, pushed the hosts up to 173-9 from their 50 overs, with Scott Briffett (1-36 from nine) and Liam Winter (1-37 from 10) also among the wickets for Pethy.

The reply started badly as opener Adam Burns and key man Asif both fell for ducks to leave the visitors with a mountain to climb.

The departure of the remainder of the top six for single figure scores all but ended the match as a contest as Frome’s opening bowlers Reece Croker (5-22 from eight) and Tom Barton (2-21 from seven) ran riot.

Meek was the only batsman to make it to double figures as he struck a defiant unbeaten 33, but he ran out of partners with the score on 68 from the penultimate ball of the 24th over.

This Saturday brings an important game for Pethy as the bottom two go head to head at Heathfield Park, with Street the visitors.

Before that, on Wednesday, North Petherton play their Baker Cup semi-final against Taunton St Andrew’s at Taunton Vale (6pm).

The Saints side is set to include Somerset starlet Tom Banton.

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SHAPWICK & Polden saw their Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset clash against North Perrott abandoned after just 2.2 overs on Saturday.

Harry Woolway picked up 2-9 in his one over to leave Perrott wobbling on 10-2, but a downpour denied the home side the chance to make any further inroads.

The weather also put paid to Sunday’s scheduled National T20 cup triple-header at Shapwick, featuring Taunton Deane and Bridgwater alongside the hosts.

That will now be played this Sunday, with the first match getting underway at 10.30am.