Monmouth Scientific Somerset League Division 2

Burnham-on-Sea 128 beat Cheddar 102 by 26 runs

BURNHAM debutant Connor Lefrere took a superb five-wicket haul to help his new side get their season off to a winning start in a low-scoring game at Cheddar on Saturday.

Having lost the toss and been put into bat on what turned out to be a very unpredictable wicket, Burnham crawled to 128 thanks to Phil White’s gritty unbeaten 32, which turned out to be a match-winning knock.

An away win was looking unlikely at the half-way stage but Lefrere got his Burnham career off to a dream start, taking five wickets for only 17 runs from his nine overs in an excellent spell of bowling.

Rob Driver and Pete Harris both chipped in with two wickets as Cheddar were bowled out for 102.

Burnham host Purnells at the BASC on Saturday and will be looking to make it two wins from two.

Division 3

Lympsham & Belvedere 179 tied with Weston-s-Mare 2nds 179-9

LYMPSHAM and Belvedere began the season hosting Weston 2s in what turned out to be a thrilling encounter.

Having lost the toss, the hosts were asked to bat first and got off to a flying start as Samuel McCrea (34) took the attack to the opposition hitting eight boundaries before being bowled by the impressive Sam Goodhew (1-24).

Mike Hosey and Jason Parsons continued to apply the pressure on the bowlers with Parsons hitting the ball to the boundary regularly.

Hosey (24) fell to Matt Blamire (1-23) and Parsons (41) to Andy Fear (1-50) as Weston slowed the rate.

The introduction of Matthew Kearsey (4-17) and Paul Stringer (3-21) made an impact as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Only Nathan Hancock (14) and Matt Grute (11) made double figures as Lympsham limped to 179 all out from 39 of their allotted 45 overs.

In reply, Lympsham struck early as McCrea removed Fear leg before.

Dominic Mayo (44) and Alex Leeks (34) set about laying a foundation as the hosts’ bowlers (A. Taylor 0-24 and T. Gooding 0-26) bowled tight lines to keep the scoring rate down.

Despite a couple of dropped chances and a few very near misses, the Lympsham side continued to plug away.

The introduction of Brendon Summers had Leeks bowled and Jack Luff removed Mayo in similar fashion to leave the game evenly poised.

Turner and Kearsey looked to attack and put the pressure back on the bowlers but the returning McCrea (2-35) had M Kearsey (18) well caught by Neville at point and Chadwick (1-35) had S Turner (37) leg before as the game came down to a thrilling finale.

With 23 needed off three overs, K Belcher (16) and M Huxtable (11) looked to have won the game as 14 was scored off the over.

A fantastic over from Summers under pressure saw Huxtable stumped by the impressive Grute and Stringer superbly caught by a diving Hancock at long off leaving six needed off the final over, to be bowled by Chadwick.

Belcher hit the first ball for four and a single off the third ball as Weston looked to have squeezed home.

With the field up, McCrea produced a direct hit to run out Blamire, another dot ball was bowled leaving a tense final delivery.

It was struck down the ground and McCrea threw to Chadwick, who did well to gather and run out Belcher to earn Lympsham and Belvedere a tie against the odds in an exciting finish.

Lympsham Concrete man of the match: Samuel McCrea

Division 4

Huntspill & District 285-4 beat South Petherton 165-7 by 120 runs

HUNTSPILL & District started their campaign with a comfortable win over South Petherton on Saturday.

After losing the toss, Matt Counsell’s side were asked to bat first and found themselves in trouble early with Nick Slack and Tom Garner both departing, leaving the home side 11-2.

Sam Lillycrop and Jake Randall weathered the storm and slowly re-built the innings.

Lillycrop was particularly strong off his legs and Randall played a number of classical cover drives as they took the score to 86-2 at 23 overs.

After this point, the pair went through the gears with Lillycrop scoring a flurry of boundaries to race past 50 as South Petherton struggled to contain the flow of runs.

It didn’t take Randall long to up his tempo, hitting three glorious straight sixes on his way to 50 and the pair took their partnership over 150.

With the score on 210, Randall was caught for 85 just as it looked like it was a race to 100 between himself and Lillycrop, who reached this milestone in the 39th over.

He continued to cut loose with new man Nick Jones before being bowled for an outstanding 122.

Jones helped himself to a rapid 44 not out which included some huge sixes as Huntspill closed on 285-4.

Huntspill soon had the South Petherton reply in trouble with CJ Organ (1-15) trapping Young lbw before the dangerous Acreman was run out by Tom Garner and Dave Counsell after a mix-up.

Dave Counsell, in partnership with Organ, put the visitors under continued pressure but didn’t get much luck, which was similar to change bowlers Matt Counsell and Randall.

Reed offered resistance with Clarke but the run rate remained well below what was required.

Matt Counsell (1-30) removed Reed after a smart stumping by Slack for 50 and Lillycrop (1-21) quickly snapped up Clarke and the chase was over.

Huntspill went in search of more points by trying to get further wickets and Nick Jones’ introduction saw him take three wickets as South Petherton closed on 165-7 to see the home side start with a 120-run win.

On Saturday, Huntspill travel to Ilton.

WEDMORE opened up their Division 5 campaign with a six-wicket win at home to Horrington on Saturday.

Put in to bat, Horrington lost an early wicket but skipper Graham Russell (38) and Will Rivers (42) recovered the innings

However, Adam Peters (3-16), Bob Burgess (2-37) and Ian Harris (2-16) reduced the visitors to 143 all out.

Wedmore lost Lloyd Patch early on but Billy Halford (32), Paul Whitaker (35no) and a half-century from Ben Evans saw them home with plenty to spare.

In Division 7N, Lympsham 2nds travelled to Churchill 2nds and won by nine wickets after strangling the home side to 79-4 off 40 overs. Opener Mike Legg ended on 35no as Sam Jennings took 1-3 off 8.

Lympsham lost Sam Harris early on by Kevin Crockett (35no) and Peter Hooper (26no) saw them home in the 17th over.

Huntspill 2nds were six-wicket winners at Cranmore 2nds, who crawled to 81-6 off 40. Dean Adams took 2-7 off eight, setting up the visitors for victory.

Openers Martyn Roper (44) and Brandon Durkin (23) got them to the line but Steve Angell (3-7) caused a stir until Ryan Mogg’s six settled the day.

East Huntspill’s Wayne hand smashed a fine 142 as his side opened with a big win over Wembdon 4ths.

Hand’s scintillating ton was supplemented by Kev Butt (45) and Adam Lee (29no), as they reached 252-3 off 40. Two wickets apiece from Paul Bagg (2-9 off 6), Kevin Watts and Andrew Chedzey led to Wembdon being out for 77.

Mark picked up 35 points in Division 8N after Peasedown failed to raise a side.

Wedmore coasted to a nine-wicket victory when they opened their account at Wells 2nds. Put in to bat, Wells lost wickets regularly as Inigo Connolly ((2-23) and Alfie Lavender (3-18 off 6) dominated.

Sam Tucker chipped in with 2-7 off five and the hosts were all out for 106.

Wedmore claimed victory, just losing the wicket of Marcus Lee (17) before Adam Stringer (41no) and Jack Tonkin (33no) made light of the task.

Burnham-on-Sea 2nds were in action on Monday at home to Purnell 2nds and won by 38.

Andy Ashfold opened in his inimitable style, carrying his bat for 65.

Craig Scriven added the dash with 55no to take Burnham to 192-4 after 40.

When Purnell replied, Robin McCord, Tom McCollom and Jack Morgan took two wickets apiece to leave them on 154-7.