WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset

Taunton Deane 121-3 beat Weston-super-Mare 118-9 by 7 wkts

TAUNTON Deane could seal the Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset title this weekend after they came through a rain-affected match at Weston-super-Mare to win by seven wickets on Saturday.

The start was pushed back due to a delayed outfield, with the knock-on effect of the overs being reduced to 35 per side.

Taking into account the conditions, the Deane opted to bowl first when the toss went their way and quickly reduced their hosts to 8-3.

Peter Trego had entered the fray at number four and reached 21 before he was bowled by Calvin Harrison (2-12 off seven) to leave Weston 46-5.

Will Plummer made 21 and there were contributions down the order from Matthew Kearsey (18) and Chris Davison (16) but the Deane kept the pressure on with the ball.

Derham returned to pick up his third wicket and finished with super figures of 3-4 from six overs as Weston limped to 118-9 from their allotted overs.

Trego (1-18 from seven) opened the bowling for Weston and swiftly accounted for Grant Davey without scoring.

Charlie Sharland made 12 before he was caught, but Harry Thomas joined captain Rob Woodman to build a pivotal partnership.

The stand was worth 53, at which point Thomas fell for 25 with the Deane 77-3, but Woodman stayed put alongside the incoming Harrison to see the visitors home.

Woodman struck six boundaries in his unbeaten 53, while Harrison contributed 27 not out as victory was sealed with 2.1 overs to spare.

The Deane need 19 points from their final two matches to secure promotion and, if they secure enough bonus points, they could yet win the league against their cross-town rivals Taunton on Saturday. The derby begins at 12.30pm at the Convent Field.

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset

Ilminster 285-0 beat Taunton 284-6 by 10 wkts

ILMINSTER openers Louis Kraucamp and George Hayward compiled a mammoth 285-run partnership to consign Taunton to a 10-wicket defeat at Gipsy Lane on Saturday, writes Paul Martin.

The visitors, perhaps surprisingly, opted to bowl first on a cracking batting track but struck early as Oliver O’Livey fell without scoring.

Charles Clist joined Jesse Vertonghen and both were soon into their stride, each passing half centuries - Vertonghen’s maiden 50 for the first team - before Clist departed for 61 from 45 balls.

Vertonghen was just three away from his century when he was clean bowled but Dan Quick (60) and Hugh Kelly (45no) injected some momentum at the death as Taunton posted what looked a challenging 284-6.

It proved anything but for Ilminster, however, as Kraucamp and Hayward took charge.

Kraucamp was the more destructive of the pair and survived two dropped catches in the same Max Toohey over with his score on 40.

It is fair to say he made the most of the let-off, going on to score 151 from 133 balls with 17 fours and four sixes.

Hayward joined him in three figures for his maiden first team century, and the 19-year-old finished on 106 at exactly a run-a-ball as the visitors completed the chase with 7.4 overs to spare.

Taunton captain Hugh Kelly said: “I’m still a bit shocked, to be honest.

“Jesse batted well but I think we were about 20 short of a par score on what was such a good wicket for batting.

“We had four frontline bowlers unavailable but I don’t want to take anything away from Louis Kraucamp and George Hayward, who batted very well - Louis, in particular, was class.

“If we had taken one of those chances when he was on 40 it could have been a different story - he is their best batsman and scoreboard pressure could have come into play.”

Taunton are now looking nervously over their shoulders after the news that three teams will be relegated from the division this season.

They are two points above the drop zone with two games to play, the first of which is the derby against leaders Taunton Deane on Saturday.

“It is frustrating to only find out now how many teams go down, but it means it is all to play for,” Kelly said.

“We have a friendly rivalry with the Deane and we are all looking forward to Saturday.

“I hope they go on and win it, but ideally in the following week!”

WEPL Premier 1

Potterne 225 beat Taunton St Andrew’s 201 by 24 runs

TAUNTON St Andrew’s pushed leaders Potterne hard at the Wyvern Club before succumbing to a defeat which leaves them on the brink of relegation from Premier 1.

The Saints opted to bowl first upon winning the toss and Potterne opener Jake Goodwin struck six early boundaries before he was caught behind off Craig Dourado (2-47) for 24.

James Hayman (1-42) claimed the key wicket of Glamorgan professional Tom Cullen for 14 before two quick wickets for Lloyd Alley (2-42) reduced the visitors to 89-4.

When Luke Poole (1-20) had Michael Ferreira stumped and then held a catch to dismiss opener Basil Akram (47) off Josh Thomas (2-33), Potterne were 117-6 and Saints were on the front foot.

However, useful contributions from Sahan Wijerathne (33) and Jack Bramwell (36) down the order frustrated the hosts, who took the final wicket with Potterne having boosted their total to 225 - helped by 37 Extras.

James Rew (4) fell early in the reply but skipper James Regan was in fine touch and soon reached a 62-ball half century.

He lost the company of Somerset’s Eddie Byrom for 14, however, and Regan’s subsequent departure for 66 left the game in the balance with St Andrew’s on 140-4.

Alley (21) and Thomas (17) chipped away at the total but three wickets fell with the score on 189 as the momentum shifted once more.

The final wicket fell on 201, with Saints 24 runs adrift of the champions-elect.

St Andrew’s, who are 28 points from safety with two games left, make the short trip to Bridgwater on Saturday (12.30pm).

WEPL Somerset Division

Wellington 159 beat Taunton Deane 2nds 89 by 70 runs

WELLINGTON have a 29-point advantage above the projected relegation zone following this fine win on the road to Taunton Deane 2nds on Saturday, writes David Derrick.

Choosing to bat upon winning the toss, Wellington batted solidly in making 159 in 49.3 overs with Sam Whitefield and Nathan Roberts constructing a good start to the innings as they added 32 opening wicket runs.

With another wicket lost at 34, this brought skipper Arron Campbell to the crease and he joined Whitefield to take the score to 79 with Campbell making a decent 25.

All the time Whitefield was playing well and he made it to a capital 60 before he was seventh out at 117.

Late runs from Jack Beal and Will Derrick, who each hit 12, took the final Wellington score to 159 with three balls unused.

Dominic Macfarlane, with 3-18 in 10 good overs of left-arm spin, was the Deane’s most successful bowler.

Wellington were in roaring form with the ball when it came to defending the runs that they had made before tea.

Vice-captain Luke Desave was in brutal mood, taking 6-23 in ten successive overs as the Deane slumped to 49-7 with Will Derrick giving great support with 1-16 in seven overs.

The home side recovered somewhat to get to 84-7 as former Ashbrittle player Luke Williams made a fighting 33, but Arron Campbell mopped up the tail and with Rob Moysey making a run out come about the job was done.

Aks Latifi’s keeping and the catching efforts of both Jack Derrick and Luke Desave played crucial parts in this success.

Wellington host second-placed Wembdon in their penultimate game of the season on Saturday (12.30pm).