Bridgwater started the season well, with a hard-fought win on Saturday at newly promoted Bishopston, the eventual winning margin being 49 runs. Bridgwater were greeted by an extremely wet pitch on arrival, which left the game in doubt, however persistence from the appointed umpires prevailed, as a reduced 33 over game was able to start at 3pm.

Bridgwater were inserted and made a bright start with James Regan looking in good form, however he was unluckily adjudged LBW when on 12.

Jake Lintott (11) and Charlie Sharland (16) both worked hard, showing great application and skill to adjust to incredibly difficult batting conditions, however when both fell in quick succession to the effective change bowlers, Will Thirkell and Dan Harris, the visitors needed to regroup at 42 for 3.

Skipper Alex Eckland immediately set out to bat the remainder of the innings, quickly identifying that any score around 150 was going to be hugely competitive, as he and Somerset’s Will Smeed set about building a partnership.

Smeed did manage a couple of trademark blows for 6, as he and Eckland did extremely well to bring up the first 50 partnership of the season, before Smeed fell for 31, bowled cutting a ball that kept low.

This brought Carlos Brathwaite to the crease, with Bridgwater looking to accelerate as the overs ran out, however the home sides left arm spinner of Thirkell (2-14), and Lawrence Cook (0-18) were extremely difficult to score off in their 7 over allocations.

Brathwaite waited until the final 3 overs, as Bishopston returned to their Kiwi overseas pacer Angus McKenzie, and despatched the next 4 balls for 22 runs, to give Bridgwater much needed impetus.

With Brathwaite dismissed for a game changing 28 from only 16 balls, Ryan Thorpe was not to be outdone, as he waded in with an unbeaten 28 from only 11 balls, in the final two overs, to allow Bridgwater to set an imposing 160 for 6, with skipper Eckland caught off the final ball for a patient 25 from 55 balls.

After the break, Bishopston started brightly through Parikshith Shetty, who raced to 29 off only 22 balls, before he was to be new signing Matt Burton’s first Bridgwater wicket. Burton bowled well without a lot of luck, as did Dan Williams, and Bridgwater were able to keep the pressure on with Luke Pearson-Taylor and Brathwaite both bowling economically.

Pearson-Taylor (1-4) continued his good start to the season, as he and Brathwaite (1-9) strangled the home side, and the introduction of Bridgwater own left arm spinners, in Lintott and Max Toohey began the clatter of wickets expected, given the success of the home spinners in the first innings.

54 for 3 soon became 92 for 9, as both Lintott (4-17) and Toohey (2-24) bowled well, aided by some fine Bridgwater catching and a good display behind the stumps by Regan in very tricky conditions. The game petered out in the last few overs, with Bishopston finishing on 111 for 9, with a hard fought, but comfortable win for the visitors.

Next weekend, the 1st XI starts their home season in the West of England Premier League hosting Lansdown 12 midday start.