West of England Premier Cricket League
Somerset Division
Chard 1st XI 322-4 beat North Petherton 1st XI 268 all out by 54 runs

CHARD avoided a third straight Somerset Division loss with an impressive performance away to North Petherton on Saturday.

Pete Moxom top scored with 99 not out as Chard made 322, before Chris Scott took five wickets and Jonathan Scott three in a 54-run victory.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first, and although they lost Robert Glentworth (6) early on, the second-wicket partnership of Nathan Johnson (87) and Matthew Micale (41).

Pethy bowler Lewis Knight, who had previously dismissed Glentworth, claimed Johnson as his second wicket, while Micale fell to Will Pope.

There was no shifting Moxom, though, who ended unbeaten and one run short of a century.

Skipper Scott Wells-Burr (17) and Jonathan Scott (55no) continued the fine batting display, and Chard ended their allotted 50 overs on 322-4.

Knight finished with 2-63 from 10 overs, Scott Briffett 1-50 off nine and Pope 1-49 off six on a punishing day for Pethy’s attack.

Their response did not begin well, as Brad Porteous (3) became Chris Scott’s first victim, trapped lbw.

Tom Williams showed more resistance with 44, but Wells-Burr removed Liam Winter for 19 (caught by Moxom) and Chris Scott saw off Paul Short and Harry Bowditch, both for ducks, and also accounted for Williams.

Pethy were holding out for a hero, and Taunton Town FC goalkeeper Lloyd Irish stepped up with a mighty 112.

Wickets kept falling, though, as Chris Scott picked up his fifth wicket by removing Lewis Irish (7).

Lloyd Irish’s century kept Pethy in the hunt, but Jonathan Scott made sure of an away win – taking out Irish (caught by Glentworth), Briffett (18) and Pope (1).

The hosts were all out for 268 in 46.3 overs, with Chris Scott ending on 5-37 off 10 and Jonathan Scott 3-56 off 6.3.

The 20 points for Chard lifted them off the bottom of the table, overtaking Temple Cloud, and they are now just three points off Staplegrove, four behind Wellington, and six away from Minehead in sixth place.

This Saturday, Chard host second-placed North Perrott (1pm).

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WEPL Somerset League
North Perrott 1st XI 163-2 beat Wembdon 1st XI 162 all out by 8 wkts

NORTH Perrott returned to winning ways with a comfortable win over third-placed Wembdon, with Troy Johnson claiming five wickets to set up the hosts’ successful run chase.

On a warm afternoon, visitors Wembdon won the toss and elected to bat first, as Perrott opened up with pace at one end and spin at the other.

It was the spin of Alex Eckland which got the breakthrough, as Josh Henry (1) was caught in the second over.

Dan Bingham and Sam Puddy moved the visitors on to 26 after five overs, only for Puddy (14) to mistime his shot, caught by Gordon Whorlow off the bowling of Eckland.

Bingham was joined by skipper Jonathan Brockwell and the total reached 59, at which point Whorlow bowled Bingham (20).

A solid partnership of 69 for the fourth wicket between Brockwell and Liam Pigden steadied things, before Johnson claimed the scalps of both – Pigden bowled for 29 and Brockwell caught by George Retter for a fine 53.

Wembdon were on 139-5, and only Billy Vickery (24no) added a score of substance as Johnson, Lorraine Szczepanski and Joshua Marshall-James wrapped up the tail, the last five batsmen scoring a combined 10 runs.

Wembdon were all out for 162 in 40 overs, with Johnson taking 5-26 off nine overs, Eckland 2-27 off eight, Marshall-James 1-27 from eight (three maidens), Szczepanski 1-30 off seven and Whorlow 1-35 off six.

Perrott survived a couple of scares – an lbw appeal, a missed run-out opportunity and a missed stumping – at the start of their reply, but then scored more freely.

Captain Whorlow played a patient innings, allowing Retter to be more aggressive – and score a half-century from 47 balls (10 4s).

Puddy removed Retter for 50 (caught by Henry), and he claimed a second wicket when Johnson (10) was caught behind by Pigden.

But Perrott had reached 94 when Johnson fell, and Whorlow (56no, with eight 4s) and Jake Symes (28no) saw them pass their target without further loss in the 38th over.

The hosts collected 21 points, to sit 11 points behind league leaders Weston-super-Mare and 32 ahead of Wembdon.