MIDDLEZOY were knocked off the top of the Premier Division after a heavy defeat at the hands of Ashbrittle on Saturday.

The hosts batted first and, led by 105 from G. Maher and B. Pitkin’s 72, racked up an impressive 301-5.

G. Purchase (3-53) led the way with the ball for Zoy, while there were also two wickets apiece for Nathan Barnard, G. Musgrave and J. Buckler on a difficult day for the bowlers.

Several Zoy batsmen made starts in reply, but none could score higher than Musgrave’s 37 as they were bowled out for 196 to lose by 105 runs.

In Division 2, Bridgwater A cruised past Burnham by 150 runs.

Having been inserted by their opponents, Bridgwater openers Tom Bellinger and Will Netto added 72 for the first wicket before the former fell for 31.

Archie Marsh helped the score rocket along courtesy of his 22-ball 38, and Netto’s vigil was brought to an end when he was caught for 68 to leave the hosts 197-5.

Daniel Rossiter (32) helped take the score past 250, and the same player then made the early breakthrough with the ball as he dismissed Dave Worthington for four.

First-change bowler Michael Skidmore ensured Burnham were always on the back foot with 3-48, and Bellinger blew away the tail on his way to figures of 4-7 from 5.1 overs.

Elsewhere in the division, Shapwick & Polden 2nds were frustrated by the weather in their match at Weston-super-Mare 2nds.

Shapwick’s batsmen looked in good nick in the time that was possible, as Tom Smith’s 52 not out helped take the score to 84-1 from 10 overs before the rain intervened.

In Division 3, North Newton fell to a 25-run defeat at Ilminster 2nds.
Miles Barham took 3-50, with C. Foster chipping in with 2-27, as Ilminster reached 230-7 from their 45 overs in an innings dominated by C. Warry’s 90.

In reply, North Newton lost a couple of early wickets but looked well set as A. Jenkins (46), J. Stone (50) and J. Sellick (52) helped them towards the target.

Once that trio had been dismissed, however, there was little resistance from the tail as North Newton were restricted to 205-8.

Will Munro had a fine day with bat and ball as Kilve beat Barrington by 30 runs in Division 3.

Munro hit 102 not out to help his side to 233-3, then took 3-26 as Barrington came up short on 203-8.

Matthew Duckering and Simon Keith were both in the runs as Bridgwater Pointers defeated North Petherton 2nds in a Division 6S derby match.

Duckering batted throughout the Pointers’ 40 overs to finish unbeaten on 82, while Keith ended on 72 not out as Bridgwater made 214-3.
Jack Rees (2-26) took two of the three wickets to fall for Pethy, who then lost early wickets in pursuit of victory.

Tom Lambert impressed with 64, but no other batsman passed 18 as the hosts were bowled out for 143.

Tom Denovan (3-30) and Bradley Rawles (2-22) stood out with the ball for the Pointers.

Middlezoy 2nds edged past Huish & Langport 2nds by just six runs, with C. Sessions taking 4-23 as Huish were bowled out for 126 chasing Zoy’s 132.

Wembdon Wyverns were frustrated by the weather against Huntspill & District 2nds in Division 7N, settling for a draw when they looked well placed for victory.

Paul McKinley (43) and Craig Savage (37*) helped Wembdon to 142-5, and Huntspill were 69-6 when the rain came.

D. Rich (56), N. Peek (54) and D. Pople (51) each made half centuries in Spaxton’s 214-6, but they were beaten by eight wickets against Uphill Castle Cavaliers.

In Division 8N, six-man Bridgwater Sports were beaten by 125 runs against Weston-super-Mare 4ths, despite B. Winter’s 56.