WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset

Ilminster 202-5 beat Taunton 201-9 by 5 wkts

ILMINSTER gained revenge for their one-wicket defeat on the opening day of the season, as they won at Taunton Deane to knock their hosts off the top of the table.

Their second straight victory was by a five-wicket margin, thanks to half-centuries from George Hayward and Josh Lee at the Convent Field on Saturday.

The Deane won the toss and chose to bat first, with Calvin Harrison (16) and Grant Davey (23) getting their side off to a positive start.

But they were dismissed by Harry Montacute (1-28 off seven overs) and Richard Elswood (3-28 off 10), with Elswood going on to pick up the wickets of Tenessee Harlow (21) and Charlie Sharland (1).

Home captain Harry Thomas (52) was the mainstay of the innings, but the only real support coming his way came from Harry Smith (30) and Jason Squire (22) as Ilminster tightened the screw.

Charlie Vickery (2-32 off eight), Matt Davis (1-40 off eight) and Sam Grinter (1-4 off one) were all in the wickets as the hosts were restricted to 201-9 from their 50 overs.

Ilminster’s reply saw them lose Louis Kraucamp (11) and Keelan Ashby (7) pretty cheaply, but Hayward (69 from 100 balls) and Vickery (42no from 74) laid the foundations for a successful run chase.

Hayward eventually fell to Sharland (2-14 off five), and his fellow half-centurion Lee (50 from 51 balls) to Rob Pryke (2-21 off seven).

Vickery and Jonny Warry (4no) finished the job, reaching 202-5 in 47.1 overs.

Having beaten top three sides Bishopston and Taunton Deane in their last two matches, Ilminster have put a good buffer between themselves (119 points) and second-bottom Taunton (89), and they’re now just 15 points off Bishopston in third.

Not that it gets any easier this weekend, as Ilminster host new leaders Winterbourne (12.30pm start).

The visitors will look to welcome back Gloucestershire captain Chris Dent, who missed last weekend’s win over Keynsham.