West of England Premier League
Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Taunton 1st XI 314-6 beat Ilminster 1st XI 272 all out by 42 runs

SOMERSET red ball captain Tom Abell blasted a mammoth 161 as Taunton outgunned Ilminster in a high-scoring encounter to leapfrog the visitors.

Hosts Taunton won the toss and batted, but were reduced to 21-3 as Sam Grinter (3-60 off 10 overs) removed Charles Clist, Simon Manley and Jack Cooper in a devastating opening spell.

Abell, however, took the game by the scruff of the neck as he blitzed his way to 161 off 132 balls, with 13 4s and three 6s.

He was well supported by Dan Quick (34) and his brother Will Abell (75), as the home side raced up to 298-4.

Both Abells then fell to Craig Rice (2-42 off five), but a quick 13 from Ben Phillips took his side to 314-6 from their 50 overs.

Ilminster openers George Hayward (81) and Charlie Vickery (45) got the reply off to an excellent start, reaching 112 before the first wicket fell.

Sam Spurway weighed in with a fine 76, as the visitors reached 261-5.

But at that point three wickets fell without a run being added, and the innings drained away to 272 all out.

James Hayes took 4-39 off six overs, Max Toohey 3-38 off nine and Blake Coburn 3-50 off 9.3 for Taunton.

Ilminster, now fifth in the table, host seventh-placed Taunton Deane on Saturday (12.30pm).

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WEPL Somerset Division
Chard 1st XI 171 all out beat Wellington 1st XI 101 all out by 70 runs

CHARD claimed a crucial victory against bottom side Wellington, Chris Scott taking five wickets to boost the hosts’ survival hopes.

The home side won the toss and chose to bat first on a slow, low wicket.

The Chard batsmen were patient, reaching 75-1 from 25 overs, with Danny Cleal (6) the man to fall, caught by Alex Sparks off the bowling of Will Derrick.

After drinks things started to turn for Wellington, with Arron Campbell (2-22 from 10 overs) bowling a fine spell of off-spin that dismissed Nathan Johnson (40) and Matt Micale (20) in quick succession.

He was supported by fellow spinner Dom Drew, who took 3-41 (off 10 overs) to leave Chard wavering on 128-6.

Luke Desave (2-24 off 10) then claimed the wickets of Jon Dalwood and Chris Scott, and when Drew ran out Joe Draper, Wellington had the home side nine wickets down for 148.

Skipper Nathan Warren ensured Chard would finish with a competitive score, however, as he scored an important 24 runs for the last wicket.

He was eventually caught in the deep, off Rob Moysey, which saw Chard dismissed for 171.

Come the reply, Chard made an early breakthough when Ben Evett (1) was adjudged lbw to Richard Scott.

Robin Davies and Alex Sparks built a second-wicket partnership of 44, but Sparks (26), Davies (18) and Kayden Hine (4) were dismissed in quick succession to leave Wellington 55-4 – Dalwood and Chris Scott doing the damage.

Campbell and Desave set about rebuilding the Wellington innings, but had to work hard for their runs, and Chris Scott saw off Campbell (10) just before drinks.

This triggered another mini collapse, as Wellington fell from 78-5 to 79-7.

Jack Beal and Moysey added some late runs to get Wellington to 101, but Derrick was caught at cover off the bowling of Jonathan Scott to confirm Chard’s victory, by 70 runs.

Chris Scott ended with 5-27 off 10 overs, and Dalwood 3-20 off 10.

Chard took 19 points to move up to seventh, 19 points clear of second-bottom Temple Cloud.

This Saturday sees them travel to league leaders Weston-super-Mare for a 12.30pm start.

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WEPL Somerset Division
North Perrott 1st XI 249-7 beat Bridgwater 2nd XI 139 all out by 110 runs

NORTH Perrott closed the gap to Somerset Division leaders Weston-super-Mare thanks to a comprehensive victory at fifth-placed Bridgwater 2nds.

As has often been the case this season, Perrott’s win was inspired by Troy Johnson, who made 124 with the bat and took four wickets with the ball.

Having won the toss, the visitors elected to bat first, but lost opener George Retter for duck.

At this point Johnson joined the action, and together with Gordon Whorlow he took the score from 1-1 up to 76, at which point Whorlow (35) was run out.

The next wicket didn’t fall until the Perrott total had reached 182, with Johnson achieving his century and Alex Eckland making 29 before falling to Matt Habberfield.

Habberfield also saw off Jake Symes (2), but Johnson guided his team past 200, before eventually falling for 124 (off 126 balls, with 17 4s and one 6), as he was caught by Ben Coombes off the bowling of Ian Higgins.

Undeterred, Nick Taylor (28) and Johnny Ireland (15no) scored well to take Perrott up to 249-7 from their 50-over allocation.

Matt Habberfield took 2-47 off 10 overs, Andrew Roberts 2-53 off 10 and Higgins 2-37 off eight for Bridgwater.

Come the hosts’ reply, Johnson showed he was far from finished for the day, as he claimed the wicket of Liam Kitch (6), Retter taking the first of his four catches during the innings.

Coombes and Todd Barrett resisted for a while, reaching 45, but the departure of Barrett (8), to Stacey Hawes, prompted a collapse from 45-1 to 59-5 as Whorlow tore through the middle order.

Coombes (57) was still there, though, and he took his side past 100 with the help of Ed Habberfield (22).

Johnson returned with a vengeance, taking the wickets of both, and Eckland and Hawes joined the fun as the Bridgwater tail was suffocated.

The home side were all out for 139 in 41 overs, with Johnson ending on 4-32 off 10 overs, Whorlow 3-8 off seven, Hawes 2-38 off 10 and Eckland 1-29 off nine.

Perrott picked up 20 points, and with Weston’s match at Temple Cloud being abandoned, the gap at the top is now seven points.

They can put more pressure on the leaders on Saturday, at home to Temple Cloud (12.30pm).