WEPL Premier 1

Bath 179-3 beat Bridgwater 173 by 7 wkts

BRIDGWATER were put firmly in their place on by a clinical Bath side, who showed why many are tipping them to regain the WEPL crown in 2019.

The visitors delivered a convincing seven-wicket win in double-quick time at a sun-drenched Parks on Saturday, chasing down Bridgwater's 173 inside 25 overs.

Bath won an important toss and their opening attack of Gloucestershire's Harry Hankins and ex-Durham and Gloucestershire professional Paul Muchall proved hard work for the Bridgwater batsmen, as they extracted movement at good pace.

Andrew Hallaran and Liam Kitch were very watchful and fronted up well to the test, but in the 10th over Hallaran (7) fell lbw for Muchall.

Muchall also dismissed Jason Oakes in his next over and Bridgwater were immediately on the back foot at 22-2.

This brought Calum Haggett to the wicket and he was immediately in his stride with some nice drives to the cover boundary in a bright partnership with Kitch (26) that was to be worth 35 as Bridgwater repaired the damage.

The introduction of Somerset’s Tim Rouse brought reward, though, as he dismissed Kitch and Stu Butt in quick succession.

Haggett was to provide a lone resistance and played expertly for a well-made 66 from 117 balls, including six fours and a six.

While Max Waller and Chris Skidmore briefly threatened it wasn’t until Chris Singleton joined Haggett that any further partnership of note could be put together, as this pair put on 36 to take the home side within reach of the third batting point.

That was not to be achieved, however, as Haggett fell to the returning Muchall (3-29), and with Singleton (12) run out in the final over, the home side were all out for a below-par 173.

Come the reply, Chris Skidmore got an early breakthrough by dismissing Kiwi professional Greg Hay in the third over, but Gloucestershire’s George Hankins (31) put bat to ball as he and Rouse took the score to 69 before Waller dismissed Hankins, well caught by Oakes.

Rouse was equally aggressive and Bridgwater’s bowlers struggled to get a hold in the game, with the boundary being found on a regular basis.

Steve Davis picked up the wicket of Muchall after a fine catch by Dan Rossiter, and also had two huge appeals against Ben Wells not given, but with Rouse (71no) showing no let-up, he and Wells (31no) led the classy Bath side home to a comfortable victory.

Match sponsors: Mark Cummins & Dean Motors; match ball sponsors: TMB Patterns Ltd.

Next Saturday, Bridgwater travel to Cheltenham looking to get back to winning ways.

Before that, Wednesday night sees Bridgwater host Taunton St Andrew's in the first round of the Somerset Major Cup (6.15pm start).

WEPL Somerset Division

Bridgwater 2nds 195-8 beat Street 75 by 120 runs

BRIDGWATER 2nd XI travelled to Street on Saturday, looking to put right the loss from the previous week.

The visitors were put into bat on a soft pitch, due to the heavy rain through the week.

Some tight bowling from the openers made scoring very difficult and Street were rewarded with two early wickets.

Jonathan Vickery and Tom Bellinger were able to rebuild and begin to set a platform for the latter order, before Vickery (21) departed on the stroke of drinks.

This brought Billy Vickery to the crease and he got the team into a good position going into the final 10 overs before Bellinger was dismissed for 36.

Billy Vickery then fell for an important 41.

Scott Clapp (26) and Seth Locke (20) struck the ball cleanly as Bridgwater accelerated and got up to a respectable score.

Tom Pople finished off the innings emphatically with 13no from four balls as Bridgwater finished on 195, a good score but with a lot of work still to do.

The Street innings never got going, as Ian Higgins and Kieran Windsor took early wickets to dismiss the key batsman.

Both bowled excellently and were well deserved of their of their figures.

Street slumped to 26-7 as Higgins finished his spell with 4-11, which included a fantastic one-handed catch from Jonathan Vickery.

Windsor (2-13) and Clapp, with an immediate wicket, picked up the others.

The remaining wickets were harder to come by as Street’s lower order dug in but Bridgwater’s bowlers were patient and Street were eventually bowled out for 75.

Clapp finished with 2-19, with Ed Habberfield and Bellinger picking up the final two wickets.

MS Somerset League Division 6N

Bridgwater Pointers 202-8 beat Uphill Castle 3rds 114 by 88 runs

BRIDGWATER Pointers were asked to bat first and young openers Liam Gilbert (17) and Barton William-Powlett (15) provided a good start.

The hosts continued to build with Simon Keith (42) and Tom Denovan (24) putting together an entertaining partnership.

Then young Ben Wickens (7no) and Mike Luckes (47no) built a superb 54-run unbroken partnership, to set up a competitive target of 202-8.

The Uphill openers tried to dominate the Pointers’ young opening attack of Freddie Brewer (1-21) and Wickens (1-17), but both stuck to their plans, finishing their spells with maidens and wickets.

With significant contributions from Luckes (2-9), Keith (3-20) and Matt Eckley (2-26), this enabled the Pointers to dismiss Uphill for 114, making it two wins from two to start the season.