CRICKET: Wembdon see off Bridgwater Seconds

WEMBDON took the local bragging rights on Saturday, defeating Bridgwater 2nd XI by 72 runs to move ahead of their rivals in the WEPL Somerset Division table.

Winning the toss, Wembdon elected to bat first against their youthful visitors, and openers Tom Lott and Tom Brooks got them off to a positive start by scoring at five runs per over during the opening 10 overs.

Michael Skidmore and Tim Hill were both dispatched for several early boundaries, including a large six from Lott over deep mid wicket.

Skidmore eventually got the breakthrough in the 10th over, with a leg-sided delivery clipping Lott’s leg stump – Lott gong for 32 from 35 balls.

Yet Sam Puddy and Brooks made sure there was no top order collapse, and the pair added a classy 67 for the second wicket.

The partnership between two in-form batters played out over 15 overs, while Bridgwater rotated their seamers and introduced the spin of James Salt and James Duckering without a great deal of success.

On the stroke of drinks Salt bowled Brooks (44), so skipper Jonathan Brockwell joined Puddy with Wembdon well placed at drinks (110-2).

Brockwell and Puddy were both were quick to punish the bad ball to the boundary, but on a large playing surface they had to run well in warm conditions.

The combination of good running and boundaries in a 71-run partnership moved Wembdon on to 181, with Puddy passing 50 once again.

With Hill injuring his hand and being forced from the field of play, Bridgwater found themselves light on the bowling front.

Liam Kitch took the gloves from Tom Pople, with the Bridgwater skipper coming into the attack with his part-time off-spin, and he broke the partnership by bowling Puddy for 59.

With nine overs and seven wickets in hand, Wembdon sent in their boundary hitters; Nkululeko Serame started by stroking a four through the covers, as he and Brockwell moved Wembdon past 200 and shared 31 for the fourth wicket.

At 212, Brockwell (52) was well caught in the deep, off Skidmore (2-53 off 10).

Brendan Pope came in to partner Serame but he, too, was caught, this time off young Callum Pope.

Mike Watts and Serame were the sixth partnership, and from the final 11 deliveries struck 20 runs, Serame finishing unbeaten on 35 from 32 deliveries – dispatching the final ball of the innings for six.

Set 252 to win, Bridgwater struggled to get going as Brockwell bowled a maiden and Matt Hubbard extracted good swing once again.

Brockwell got the early breakthrough, trapping Dom Court (0) lbw in the fourth.

Sensing the run rate increasing, Kitch played some more positive strokes, but Wembdon stuck to their plan and Hubbard removed Kitch (12) as the batsman edged the ball, which deflected off keeper Brooks to Dan Bingham in the slips.

The visitors were 32-2 from 10 overs but with the dependable Jonathan Vickery at the crease the game was very much alive.

Wembdon introduced Lott and Bingham, and Lott claimed instant success, trapping Will Moyse (12) lbw from a quicker delivery.

The breakthrough brought James Duckering in to partner Vickery; the duo shared Bridgwater’s best partnership of the day, which tested Wembdon’s nerves.

Wembdon rotated their bowlers, using eight in total, while a 16-over partnership of 79 moved Bridgwater along to 122-3.

After an attritional spell of cricket, Brendan Pope got the breakthrough as Vickery (38) pulled a short ball straight to Bingham at mid wicket and, just two overs later, Max Sellick took the catch off Pope to remove Duckering (32).

With Bridgwater 129-5 regular wickets started to fall, Serame bowling John Hill (9) and Sellick cleaning up Callum Pope (6) in his second over.

Brockwell then took a catch to remove Pople (19), again off Sellick, and Sellick claimed his third just a handful of overs later as Salt (11) was caught by Serame.

Sellick (3-23) and Pope (2-36) were the pick of the bowlers as Bridgwater lost six wickets for 57 runs once Duckering and Vickery had departed; Hill, absent through injury, did not bat.

Match sponsors: Hatch Beauchamp Garage

Wembdon, now in third spot, travel to sixth-placed Yeovil this coming Saturday (12.30pm).

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WEPL Somerset Division
Minehead 193-2 beat North Petherton 190 by 8 wkts

NORTH Petherton’s flirt with relegation continues following a heavy home defeat at the hands of in-form Minehead.

Skipper Harry Bowditch elected to bat and it looked like a sound decision as openers Max Trevarthan (48) and Lewis Knight (35) set about the Minehead attack.

They put on 82 before Knight was out, then Bowditch and Trevarthan took the score to 101 before the latter was dismissed by Archie Marsh.

Owen Irish came and went quickly as the innings faltered but, at 174-4, it looked like Pethy could post a big score.

However, the introduction of Gary Archer and a second spell from Ellis Taylor changed the game and Pethy plummetted to 190 all out, despite Paul Short adding 24.

Minehead’s openers also took a liking to the pitch, Ian Buchanan hitting 12 fours in his 67 as he and Angus Marsh put on 90 for the first wicket.

When Buchanan fell, Marsh continued and he found a reliable partner in Phil Barraclough and, together, they were still there at the close, with Minehead coasting home with 17 overs in hand.

Marsh was unbeaten on 77 and Barraclough on 33 despite Pethy trying seven bowlers to try and find the breakthrough.

As a result, Pethy sit second-bottom, just two points off bottom club Deane 2nds.

On Saturday, they travel to Chard (12.30pm start).

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WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Winterbourne 92-2 beat Shapwick & Polden 91 by 8 wkts

SHAPWICK’s hopes of survival faded further on Saturday with a comprehensive defeat.

Electing to bat first, they lost their first two wickets with just one run on the board.

There was no comeback from that as Winterbourne’s attack made regular inroads.

Steve Spencer top-scored with 24, and Steve Coppell and John Stratton battled away for a dozen apiece, but the innings faded away to 91 all out.

Nicholas Crane took three wickets and George Ford (3-9 off 7) mopped up the tail.

Winterbourne didn’t delay the execution as Ben Slade (21) and Chris Dent (42) raced to 77 for the opening wicket.

As a result, it was done and dusted in 13 overs.

Shapwick are firmly entrenched at the bottom of the table and are hot favourites for relegation to the Somerset Division.

On Saturday, they entertain third-placed Midsomer Norton (12.30 start).