WEPL Somerset Division

Chard 148-8 beat Street 79 by 69 runs

CHRIS Scott produced a match-winning bowling performance on Saturday to move Chard up to fourth in the division.

Put in to bat in bowler-friendly conditions, Chard made slow progress on a rain-affected wicket, with Jon Dalwood - promoted to the top of the order to provide a steadying influence - providing the anchor.

He and Nathan Johnson came together and added a valuable 39 - crucial in the context of the low-scoring game - after Akhona Mbanga went for one.

Following the departure of Johnson for a patient 12, wickets fell regularly but runs were eked out as Chard reached 115-7.

Jonathan Scott joined Dalwood and they produced vital late runs to take the total to 148-8 as the overs ran out.

Dalwood was still there, unbeaten on 46 from 127 balls after the 50 overs.

The Street batting line-up had no answer to Chris Scott in reply.

He gleaned 6-13 off his nine overs as the innings crumbled.

Only Rob Hill (18) and Jack Western (18) reached double figures and, when the latter was out, the game was essentially over as a contest.

The rest of the wickets were shared out, with Dalwood’s bowling being just as miserly, taking 1-23 off 10.

Chard now sit just a point behind third-placed Wellington after a confidence-boosting victory.

On Saturday, they travel to Taunton Deane 2nd XI (12.30 start).

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset

Ilminster 209-9 v Taunton 84-2 (abandoned)

THE rain spoiled a potentially exciting run chase at Ilminster on Saturday as their match with Taunton was abandoned after 16 overs of the visitors’ reply.

Having been put in, Ilminster lost three early wickets - one to Somerset captain Tom Abell, representing his boyhood club side for the first time this season - but Louis Kraucamp made light of the conditions on his way to a brisk half century.

Kraucamp was trapped in front by Will Abell, brother of Tom, for 73 from 63 balls (with 14 boundaries) but Matt Davis dug in for an unbeaten 42 to take Ilminster to a competitive 209-9 from their 50 overs.

Taunton’s openers Charles Clist and Jesse Vertonghen made a swift start to the reply before Clist was caught by Craig Rice from the bowling of Keelan Ashby for 24.

James Thompson then clean bowled Dan Quick for a duck, bringing Tom Abell to the wicket, but he only had time to make an unbeaten 10 before rain intervened.

Vertonghen was 36 not out at the other end as Taunton were left on 84-2 after 16 overs.

The two sides met again on Monday evening in the Baker Cup semi-final, which Taunton won by 74 runs after decisive innings by Tom Abell and Charles Clist.

Ilminster youngster Lachlan Rice, meanwhile, put in a superb all-round performance in his most recent game for Somerset Under-12s against Gloucestershire last week.

The budding star, who attends Swanmead School, took 4-12 and hit 21 to help Somerset to victory.

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Elsewhere in Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset, North Perrott made the journey to Shapwick & Polden under heavy skies.

After being put in to bat, they only managed two overs before the rain put paid to the day’s play, with the score on 10-2, both George Retter and Jamie Baird being the victims of Harry Woolway.

On Saturday, Perrott are again on the road, this time to fellow mid-tablers Midsomer Norton who are just a point behind.