WEPL Premier 2
Shapwick & Polden (208-7) beat Ilminster (205-8) by three wickets

ILMINSTER suffered defeat in their first outing of the 2017 WEPL Premier 2 season, as Shapwick & Polden chased down 205 to win by three wickets.

Opener Louis Kraucamp hit a brisk 43 off 50 deliveries (with nine 4s), but George Hayward (6) and Charlie Vickery (5) were both dismissed lbw.

In came skipper Sam Spurway, who reached 51, with J Warry (32) and Matt Davis (20) also contributing useful scores to a competitive total of 205-8.

Callum Haggett (3-28) was the pick of the Shapwick bowlers, with Steve Coppell and Sean Stringer claiming two wickets apiece.

Shapwick opener Steven Tinnion only lasted seven balls before Sam Grinter had him out lbw, and although Wayne Spencer scored 52 off 57 balls the result was in the balance when Stringer departed for a duck at 151-7.

Haggett, though, completed a strong all-round performance with an unbeaten 42, combining with Ben Rudge (35*) to see the hosts over the line with 3.1 overs to spare.

Vickery finished with figures of 3-26, with fellow Ilminster bowler James Thompson 2-62.

Shapwick took 19 points, leaving Ilminster with seven.

Ilminster are at home this Saturday, with Glastonbury - winners over Bishopston at the weekend - the visitors.

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WEPL Somerset
North Petherton (193-8) beat Chard (192-7) by two wickets

CHARD 1st XI’s opening WEPL Somerset encounter ended in a narrow defeat to North Petherton on Saturday.

They won the toss and opted to field, but suffered an early blow when Somerset’s Paul van Meekeren dismissed Robert Glentworth for 8.

Nathan Warren (14), Matthew Micale (13) and Pete Moxom (13) were all stumped by Pethy wicketkeeper (and Taunton Town goalkeeper) Lloyd Irish.

That left captain Scott Wells-Burr (35) and lower order players Jonathan Scott (38*) and Alex Hunt (36 off 43 balls) to score crucial runs and get Chard up to 192-7.

Van Meekeren ended on 2-28, with spinner Ian Blackwell miserly on 2-11.

Lloyd Irish got Pethy’s reply off to a flier, with 41 off 20 balls, but Chard’s attack claimed regular victims.

Wells-Burr (2-39) and Joe Draper (2-41) were on form, but Jon Dalwood (3-16) shone brightest.

Despite the bowlers’ efforts, Brad Porteous (54) and Owen Irish (48) edged Pethy closer to victory, but when Draper clean bowled Irish the visitors were seven short with two wickets remaining.

Scott Briffett and Lewis Knight got them over the line, to secure 17 points, with Chard taking seven.

This coming Saturday, Chard are away to North Perrott 1st XI, who won at Wembdon 1sts by 41 runs last weekend.