TOM Williams finished up agonisingly short of his first century of the season as North Petherton cruised to a nine-wicket demolition of Street on Saturday – and edged ever closer to the Somerset Division title.

Williams finished 99 not out to guide Pethy to a commanding win, after Street had earlier been dismissed for just 158.

Owen Irish also added 51 at the top of the order to seal victory inside 25 overs.

Tim Gibbs (2-15), Ian Blackwell (2-27) and Lewis Irish (2-33) grabbed two wickets apiece to put Pethy in pole position – and two run outs completed a fine display from the home side.

The win opens up a six-point lead over second-place North Perrott with two games left to play – North Petherton host Ashbrittle on Saturday.

In Division One of the Somerset Cricket League, Bridgwater A thrashed Purnells by 92 runs thanks to a half-century from C Hallett (56).

Hallett top scored for Bridgwater as they posted 170 all out, before A Hose (3-5), M Skidmore (2-37), L Stephenson (2-14) and D Cocks (2-19) helped bowl Purnells out for just 78.

Elsewhere in the Division, Middlezoy suffered a five-wicket defeat at Kilmington and Stourton after only being able to muster 153-6 batting first.

N Barnard (46) topped the charts for Zoy, but the hosts reached their target with little over three overs to spare, despite 3-37 from Barnard.

In Division Six, Shapwick and Holden slumped to a five-wicket defeat at home to Taunton Deane Cavaliers.

Shapwick batted first and were rolled for just 50 inside 21 overs, while Deane lost five wickets in reply.

Only L Darlington (16) and R Edwards (17) made it into double figures for Shapwick – while Edwards was also the pick of the bowlers with 3-28.

In Division Seven, North Petherton 2nd XI came up short at Evercreech, despite 85 from T Lambert.

Pethy finished up a long way short of Evercreech’s 277-5 after a century from D Wood (103) put the game out of their reach.

Elsewhere in Division Seven, Middlezoy 2nd XI cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Wembdon Wyverns.

Wembdon batted first and could only muster 160-7 from their 45 overs.

Scott Pigden (54) led the way for Wembdon at the top of the order, but he lacked support from his teammates.

Grant Purchase (4-35) and A Clapp (3-47) did the damage with the ball for Zoy, before J Gray (63no), M Wilkins (33) and Purchase (32) fired Middlezoy to an emphatic win with 13 overs in hand.

In Division 8N, a middle-order batting collapse saw Wembdon Academy suffer an eight-wicket reverse at home to Watchet 2nd XI.

Wembdon were bowled out for just 91 batting first, despite the best efforts of P Tilley (32).

Only one other Wembdon batsman made it into double figures as they were dismissed in 33.4 overs – in contrast, the Watchet reply lasted just 20 overs thanks to 53 not out from J Milton.

Elsewhere in Division 8N, Bridgwater Sports were 24-run winners at Wedmore 2nd XI thanks to an unbeaten 56 from B Winter.

Winter top scored for Sports in an innings of 168-2, before J Winter, P Winter and R Gillard took two wickets apiece to bowl Wedmore out for 144.