West of England Premier League
Somerset Division
Wembdon 214-8 beat North Petherton 138 by 76 runs

WEMBDON claimed the local bragging rights with a 76-run victory away to North Petherton on Saturday, their fourth consecutive win.

Wembdon elected to bat first in hot and humid conditions but lost an early wicket when Tom Lott was bowled in the second over by a Farran Gregory yorker.

It was 22-2 when the lively Ben Meek had Jon Brockwell caught in the covers for 7.

Nkululeko Serame and Sam Puddy played positively in a stand of 58, which was ended when Lewis Knight trapped Serame lbw for 32.

Scott Briffett bowled Lowe (3) with his third delivery to leave Wembdon 90-4 from 24 overs.

Fresh from last weekend’s 60-run partnership, Dan Bingham joined Puddy at the crease and moved the score along to 140, Puddy bringing up a well deserved first half-century of the season.

On 55, Puddy fell lbw to Paul Short who then had the incoming Pigden caught just three balls later.

Bingham and the incoming Mike Watts (16) added some impetus and Bingham reached his maiden half-century of the summer while also taking Wembdon past 200.

Briffett (2-37) had Max Sellick (8) caught but James Annison (10*) and Bingham (55*) saw out the final overs as Wembdon posted a competitive 214-8.

After tea, a lively opening spell from Annison seemed to trouble Owen Irish and Wembdon thought they had their man as the ball seemed to come off the face of Irish’s bat and through to the wicketkeeper but Irish was given not out.

Wembdon regrouped and got the much needed breakthrough when Annison bowled Knight (16), who had struck 14 off Serame’s second over.

Wembdon introduced Bingham (0-31 off 10), who helped to dry up the boundaries before an excellent throw from Serame and gather by Pigden ran out the dangerous Ali Asif (1).

Brockwell (1-28 off 10) then replaced Annison (1-27) and bowled a lively spell with Irish and Bowditch playing and missing regularly.

Puddy held on to a high catch at deep mid-wicket off Brockwell as Irish fell for 35 with North Petherton 77-3 from 15 overs.

Serame returned to deliver a double-wicket maiden, having Bowditch caught and Lloyd Irish bowled for a second ball duck.

Serame then struck again, bowling Meek, and Matt Hubbard got among the wickets, bowling George Western.

The score became 135-8 when Serame trapped Short lbw for 15 and claimed his fifth wicket by bowling Lewis Irish, finishing with figures of 5-32 from 10 overs.

Hubbard (2-15) only needed two balls to bowl Briffett, dismissing North Petherton for 138 in the 41st over.

Wembdon welcome Chard to The Green this coming Saturday, while Pethy head to Taunton Deane 2nds (both 12.30pm start).

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WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Bishopston 258-9 beat Shapwick & Polden 257-7 by 1 wkt

SHAPWICK & Polden snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as Bishopton’s last wicket pair added 73 to see their side to a remarkable final ball win on Saturday.

Having won the toss and opted to bat, Sam Edmunds (34) and James Venkatrao (15) added 62 for the first wicket before both fell in quick succession.

Further solid contributions came from the middle order, with Stephen Tinnion (44) and Wayne Spencer (41) both in good touch before John Stratton’s unbeaten 59 led the hosts to 257-7.

Shapwick had to be patient in the field initially as the aggressive Daaryoush Ahmed (49) and watchful Cyrus Shafi (44) put on 80.

Ahmed’s departure to Spencer (2-29) sparked a mini-collapse from 80-0 to 95-4, but David O’Brien rebuilt with Shafi.

Having added 54 for the fifth wicket, both batsmen then fell to Oskar White (3-40) in quick succession as Bishopston slipped to 153-7, which soon became 185-9 to leave Shapwick on the verge of a much-needed win.

Last man Dan Harris had other ideas, however, as he and Frank Connelly took the attack to Shapwick.

The pair brought up their 50 stand inside 34 balls to set home nerves racing, and needed eight to win from as many deliveries at the death.

They got the job done from the final ball, Connelly finishing on 36 while number 11 Harris walked off with 38 from 29 balls including three fours and three sixes.

Conceding 36 Extras also did little to help Shapwick’s cause; the bottom side will look to pick themselves up for the trip to fellow strugglers Taunton on Saturday.