Bridgwater CC - 1st XI 177 / 3 (31.1) def. Chippenham CC, Wilts - 1st XI 171 / All out (44.1)

BRIDGWATER dodged the showers to make it back-to-back home victories at the Parks on Saturday, with a convincing 7 wicket win over struggling Chippenham.

The home side were led home by a fantastic unbroken 111 run stand for the 4th wicket between skipper Alex Eckland and Warwickshire’s Jake Lintott, an exhibition of game management with both in total control of the game throughout.

This followed a decent bowling performance, with all bowlers contributing to the visitors posting a below par target, with left arm spinner Max Toohey outstanding.

Chippenham surprisingly chose to bat first in the stormy conditions, with the start time delayed by an hour due to showers, and they made the worst possible start losing Wiltshire’s Dylan Church to Toohey in the first over.

This was compounded by Toohey also dismissing Pakistani professional Ghumman with only 16 on the board, and Bridgwater continued in relentless fashion reducing the visitors to 55 for 6, with Lintott picking up 3 wickets and Sharland 1.

The recovery was led by the hard-hitting Charlie Slade, who counterattacked to good effect, as supported by Jake Rowe, they added 82 in 12 overs, with Slade scoring 69 from only 41 balls, including 4 sixes.

Rowe continued to dig in for 39 from 70 balls, he and James King added a painstaking 27 in 12 overs, however Luke Pearson-Taylor finished off the tail in quick time, taking 2-4, as Chippenham posted 171 all out at tea.

Toohey was outstanding with 2-30 from his 9 overs and Jarrod McKay (0-33) bowled beautifully with no luck at all, with Dan Williams (2-38), Lintott (3-52) and Sharland (1-8) the other wicket takers.

Bridgwater lost Mike Coles early, after a mix up with Andrew Hallaran (24), and when the latter and Sharland (21) also fell, Bridgwater were at risk of making hard work of the run chase, at 66-3.

However, skipper Eckland took over from here, as he was first aggressive, bringing up his 50 off only 42 balls, before handing over as the aggressor to Lintott, who took on the bowlers after a quiet start.

Lintott brought up his fifty with a reverse switch hit to clinch the extra batting point and the win, as Bridgwater coasted home at 177 for 3, in front of a huge gathering of sponsors and supporters, at the club’s annual sponsor day.

Next Saturday Bridgwater visit 2nd placed Potterne, whilst the 2nds host Shapwick & Polden at the Parks, 12:30pm.