WEPL Bristol & Somerset Division

Wembdon 220-8 lost to Midsomer Norton 221-7 by three wickets

WEMBDON’S fight for survival in the division looks set to go down to the wire after they suffered a dramatic final over defeat at the hands of tabletopping Midsomer Norton on Saturday.

Rich Gower’s half-century carried Wembdon to 220-8 from their 50 overs, but 92 from Martin Cox, the division’s leading run scorer, fired the leaders to victory later in the day.

Wembdon batted first on a decent wicket and with a loose first over (10) punished by Gower they were rocking.

In the second over a sharp yorker cleaned up skipper Puddy (4) and usually steady Bowditch (1) edged to second slip an over later.

Wembdon were in trouble, but Gower battled hard well, supported by Brockwell, the pair added 47.

Wembdon moved on to 65 when Brockwell (12) departed, caught in the 15th over.

Wembdon lost four wickets for 21 runs after drinks, which included Gower, stumped, but only after he had made a classy 65 from 105 balls.

An 86-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Pope (40no) and Bennett (36no) took Wembdon to a solid 220-8 from 50 overs.

After tea, Wembdon’s opening spells of bowling did not go as well as they would have hoped.

An early dropped catch at gully did not help proceedings, but Brendan Pope got the breakthrough in the fourth over, trapping Blackmore LBW.

The second wicket would be 15 overs away and after several more dropped catches, Midsomer Norton adding 73 runs in that time.

A good catch by Eckley off Ian Blackwell made the difference and after 20 overs Midsomer Norton had reached 86-2.

Dan Bingham and Matt Hubbard bowled out the final seven overs with Midsomer Norton needing 23 runs from 42 balls.

Bingham’s first three overs went for six runs and Hubbard took two wickets in his final over, including that of Cox, leaving Midsomer Norton requiring two runs from the final over.

Bingham found his yorker length well, but Nick Potter (33no) pinched a single off the first ball of the over to tie the scores.

Gould, who was yet to face a ball, then found fielders for the next three balls before scampering through for the winning run.

Wembdon host Bedminster on Saturday at 12.30pm in their final home game of the season.