WEPL Somerset Division
North Perrott 196-8 beat Chard 98-8 by 98 runs

CHARD welcomed league leaders North Perrott on Saturday to a damp and soggy Dening Field on Saturday. 

Giving the visitors first use yielded immediate result with Akhona Mbanga bowling George Retter for a golden duck but the attack was soon in difficulty with the greasy ball. 

Gordon Whorlow and Alex Eckland (30) profited from this and with several additional ‘five wides’ the score accelerated alarmingly.

The introduction of Paul Grinter slowed the rate and then down came the rain.

After a lengthy delay the match was resumed as a 25-over affair and Jack Henderson was soon into his powerful stride against the struggling home attack.

The total continued to climb until he was bowled by Harvey Dening for 86, Whorlow having been run out for 42, and Perrott closed on 196-6 with only Grinter (1-20) and Dening (2-19) emerging with credit for Chard. 

The D/L method resulted in a revised target of 207 from 25 and Chard were never in the hunt after early losses, slipping to 38-5. 

Tom Shire made a welcome return to some form in hitting an unbeaten 25 and skipper Jed Warren ensured that Perrott didn’t take maximum points in spite of Whorlow’s fine figures of 3-9 from five.

All in all a dispirited and damaging performance from the outset - Chard will look to improve when they travel to Bridgwater 2nds on Saturday.

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Ilminster 118-5 v Midsomer Norton (rain)

RAIN denied Ilminster the chance to close the gap at the top of Premier 2 ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash with leaders Lansdown.

Ilminster travelled to Midsomer Norton last weekend and, perhaps unsurprisingly in light of the murky conditions, were put in upon losing the toss.

They were quickly in trouble as Sam Spurway (5), Jonny Warry (2) and Charlie Vickery (0) each fell with the score on 11, Andrew Cox picking up two of the scalps en route to figures of 3-29 from nine overs.

George Hayward and Jon Hurford led a recovery before the former was trapped in front by Cox on 17 to leave the score 42-4.

Hurford was later dismissed for 42 having added 60 for the fifth wicket with Craig Rice, who was unbeaten on 12 alongside Charlie Male (8no) when the rain arrived.

No further play was possible and Ilminster ended on 118-5 from 33 overs, picking up six points in the process.

Only one innings was possible in Lansdown’s game too, though the leaders managed to stretch their lead at the top as they earned nine points having made 188 all out against Keynsham.

The results mean 20 points separate the two sides ahead of Saturday’s match at The Rec (12.30pm) though Lansdown do have the advantage of a game in hand.