West of England Premier League
Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
North Perrott 251-7 beat Ilminster 248-6 by 3 wkts

A SPARKLING century from Louis Kraucamp was not quite enough to inspire an Ilminster victory away to North Perrott on Saturday, as the hosts won their fourth straight league match to start the new season.

Ilminster won the toss and elected to bat, a decision which looked vindicated when the opening partnership put on 142 runs without loss.

Jonny Warry departed one run shy of his half-century, stumped off Alex Eckland (2-35), but Charlie Vickery kept the score moving.

Kraucamp eventually fell for 111 (from 135 balls, with 12 fours and a six), caught off the bowling of Gordon Whorlow (1-50), to leave the visitors on 197-2.

Vickery added 37, before falling to Matthew Pardoe (3-56), and quick-fire scores of 21 from Jon Hurford, 10 by Keelan Ashby and 9no from Josh Lee took Ilminster to a competitive 248-6 from their 50 overs.

Perrott would need to score well, and pretty quickly, to overhaul that total, and they were up to 44 before the first wicket fell, Pardoe clean bowled by Harry Montacute (1-42).

There were no massive scores from the home batsmen, but they were steady – Gordon Whorlow making 32, Jamie Baird 47 and Alex Eckland 34.

It was a gripping battle between bat and ball, with Sam Grinter, Craig Rice, James Thompson and Vickery all picking up a wicket apiece for Ilminster.

Thompson was the most economical, with 1-28 off 10 overs, while George Hayward came on to claim 2-45 off eight.

But it wasn’t quite enough; Jack Henderson struck 52 off 54 balls before being caught off the bowling of Grinter at 239-7.

The game remained in the balance into the final over... George Retter (12no off seven balls) and Sam Rowswell (3no) just about getting their side over the line, with just five balls to spare.

This coming Saturday sees Ilminster host Midsomer Norton, and Perrott visit Taunton Deane (12.30pm).