West of England Premier League
Covid Group C
Taunton St Andrews 195-5 beat Taunton Deane 194-8 by 5 wkts

TAUNTON St Andrews claimed their first win of the 2020 WEPL season, as they handed cross-town rivals a five-wicket defeat at the Convent Field on Saturday.

The Deane won the toss and opted to bat, only to plunge to 15-2 as visiting captain Lloyd Alley (3-41 off seven overs) accounted for both openers.

Harry Smith and Calvin Harrison rebuilt, taking the hosts up past 100, at which point Luke Poole (3-39 off eight) made the breakthrough, trapping Harrison (33) lbw.

Poole ripped out the Deane’s middle order, but it was James Hayman (2-26 off eight) who finally ended Smith’s innings at 76.

The home side weren’t done, though, and quickfire scores from Jamie Stephens (17*) and Edward Mellor (37) helped them reach 194-8.

Saints opener Stephen Tinnion made a flying start, striking 16 from seven balls, before falling to Matt Derham (2-33 off 5.4).

Louis Kraucamp (37) and James Rew (23) were more patient, steadily laying the foundations, but both were seen off by Harrison (3-19 off eight) as the visitors stumbled from 99-1 to 125-4.

Saints were not to be denied, however, as Justin Burke (41) and George Thomas (31*) wrenched back control of the match and Thomas struck the winning boundary with two overs to spare.

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TAUNTON St Andrews 2nd XI made it a WEPL double for the club by beating Chard in Group D.

Toby Williams-Thomas scored 63 (off 41 balls) and Jordan Lee 33 as the home side made 204 all out, with Jonathan Scott claiming 3-27 and Benjamin Riley 3-40 for Chard.

Despite Nathan Johnson’s 48*, the visitors tumbled from 43-1 to 87-8 and ultimately 129 all out, as Williams-Thomas took 4-13, Ben Walford 3-24 and Ollie Heard 2-22.

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SATURDAY also saw Taunton secure their first win of the season, as Weston-super-Mare fell 17 runs short of chasing down the visitors' 210 on Saturday.

Taunton were indebted to James Clark's 31-ball 43*, before five bowlers - Clark, Oliver O'Livey, Ben Orr, Liam Redrup and Henry Weatherill - claimed two wickets apiece to deny Weston.

It's Minehead and Wellington who are joint top of Group C, after both sides won their second successive game on Saturday.

Minehead chased down Wembdon's 206-7 to win by seven wickets, while Wellington claimed a major scalp in defeating Bridgwater by 23 runs.

Wellington made 190-4, and Rob Moysey's 4-33 hampered Bridgwater's chase.

Staplegrove are still looking for their first win in Group D, after a 118-run defeat at Bridgwater 2nds.