West of England Premier League Somerset Division
Wembdon 1st XI 273-6 beat Minehead 1st XI 115 by 158 runs

WEMBDON bounced back with a formidable 158-run win at Minehead on Saturday, writes Dan Bingham.

Winning the toss, Wembdon had no hesitation in batting first and the innings started positively, as Bingham scored 11 off the first six balls, but thereafter the Minehead attack improved and E. Taylor removed Pigden (2) to leave Wembdon 24-1.

Jack Lowe (8) was then well caught, and Wembdon skipper Jon Brockwell joined Bingham at the crease with his side on 43-2. 

The visitors needed a solid partnership and, when Bingham moved past 50 and Wembdon were on 130-2 off 30 overs, looked to double their score.

Brockwell moved on to 48 when he fell to a sublime one-handed catch in the slips, ending the partnership for the third wicket on exactly 100 runs.

Billy Vickery helped Wembdon past 200 before being caught on 30.
With 10 overs remaining Bingham looked to be heading for his century, but a mix-up with the incoming batsman left Bingham run out for 88.

Michael Watts went quickly but Brendan Pope (30) and South African Josh Henry (23) shared a final stand of 48 for the seventh wicket, as Wembdon reached 273-6 from 50 overs.

Minehead’s response got off to the worst possible start as Pope took two quick wickets before Brockwell removed the dangerous Ian Buchanan shortly after, thanks to a good catch by Lowe, and Minehead were struggling on 26-3.

It quickly became evident that Minehead were not going to get the runs required, but their stubborn batsmen made life difficult for the Wembdon bowlers.

A mix-up running a second led to a run-out by Bingham and Pope claimed two more quick wickets, finishing his spell with 4-25.

Minehead had been reduced to 58-6, and a stale period followed, with wickets drying up and runs almost non-existent. 

Max Sellick finally removed Muggeridge, before leading wicket-taker Henry trapped top scorer Howard (26) lbw.

At 112-8, Wembdon turned to Jack Lowe, who needed only four balls to take the remaining two wickets as Wembdon dismissed Minehead for 115.

Wembdon move into third place in the table, and they entertain Staplegrove CC on Saturday (1pm start).

ON Sunday, June 25, Wembdon host the second round of the ECB National T20 competition. 

There will be music, a barbecue, bar and coloured kit as Wembdon take on Lansdown and Bridgwater in a round-robin tournament (10.30am start).

West of England Cricket League Somerset Division
Staplegrove 140-6 beat North Petherton 139 by 4 wkts

NORTH Petherton slipped to their third consecutive WEPL Somerset Division defeat on Saturday as they went down by four wickets at Staplegrove.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat, Pethy were grateful to captain Mike Burns’ 51 as they stumbled to 139 all out.

Opening batsman Lloyd Irish (23) was the only other batsman to pass 20 as the visitors struggled to get going in the sunshine.

Matthew Dimond was the destroyer in chief for Grove, taking 5-23 from 9.2 overs, while Ian Bishop (2-30) and Thomas Pantling (2-20) also chipped in.

The under-par score could, and perhaps should, have been enough after Pethy’s opening bowlers Brad Porteous (3-27) and Scott Briffett (2-37) combined to reduce the hosts to 20-5 early in the reply.

Then came the defining partnership of the match, as Joseph Pantling (36) and captain Bishop (64*) added 86 runs for the sixth wicket to take Grove to within touching distance of what was turning out to be a more challenging target than they may have anticipated at the tea break.

Visiting hopes were raised when Pantling was lbw to Lewis Irish (1-10), which left the hosts on 104-6 - still 36 runs short of victory with just four wickets left.

However, Aaron Nurcombe (7*) then joined the commanding Bishop to see the home side over the line in a match which saw Grove claim 18 points and Pethy just four.

North Petherton will be looking to bounce back when they welcome Bridgwater 2nds on Saturday.