WEPL Premier 1

Taunton St Andrew's 104-4 beat Cheltenham 103 by 6 wkts

TAUNTON St Andrew's gave their Premier 1 survival hopes a shot in the arm by returning from their long trip to Cheltenham on Saturday with victory.

With rain around, the Saints won a vital toss, put their hosts in and made a super start with the ball.

There was a wicket each for Craig Dourado, working up a head of steam downwind, and James Hayman (1-24 off seven), bowling manfully uphill into the wind, before a run out left the hosts 12-3.

Josh Breed (30) added 58 with Michael Kelly (24) but spin twins Luke Poole (2-16 off seven) and Josh Thomas (2-30 off seven) put the squeeze on in the middle overs as wickets continued to fall.

Deven Bell then took 2-1 from his two overs before Dourado (2-16 from 5.1) returned to take the final wicket with the score on 103.

The chase was far from plain sailing to begin with as Bell fell without scoring before two wickets for Luke Sellers reduced the visitors to 25-3.

It was 45-4 when George Thomas (4) departed but Lloyd Alley joined James Regan, who had stood firm as wickets fell around him.

Alley was in good touch from the outset, hitting five boundaries in his run-a-ball 37 not out which saw the Saints home with no further alarm.

Regan, who finished unbeaten on 38 as the chase was completed in the 21st over, said: "It was a pivotal toss to win and we bowled brilliantly.

"James Hayman drew the short straw with the ends but was outstanding up the hill and Craig was bowling quickly.

"Our spinners, Luke Poole and Josh Thomas, were superb in the middle and Deven [Bell] did what Deven does - it's great to have him back.

"It was tough to tell what a good score would have been - I was confident 104 would be more than achievable, though I was a bit concerned when we lost those early wickets.

"Lloyd [Alley] found a fluency which nobody else seemed to on the day and saw us home."

There was a further boost for the Saints on their journey home, with the team able to watch one of their own, Tom Banton, blast his first T20 century for Somerset against Kent.

"We watched every ball on the bus and were absolutely delighted for him," Regan said.

"People are starting to run out of words for how good he is.

"I am also very pleased that Eddie [Byrom] is showing what he can do in T20.

"I have always known he has an ability to score quickly and he has gone in there with a clear plan and executed it really well."

Next up for the Saints, who are 23 points adrift of safety with three matches to play, is a tough game at home to leaders Potterne on Saturday.

"It has been a league where everyone has beaten everyone but they have been the standouts," Regan said.

"However, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset

Taunton Deane 131-6 beat Bishopston 135 by 4 wkts (DLS)

TAUNTON Deane took advantage of Winterbourne's washout to stretch their lead at the top of the table with a rain-affected victory over Bishopston at the Convent Field.

The Deane chose to bowl upon winning the toss, a decision which was immediately vindicated as Jason Squire (2-9 off seven) and Matt Derham (1-19 off six) reduced the visitors to 17-3.

Mark Coombes led a mini-revival with 41 but lacked much in the way of support as first-change Rob Pryke (2-22 off six) kept the pressure on the batsmen.

Spinners Calvin Harrison (2-32 off nine) and Jamie Stephens (3-11 off 5.5) wrapped up the innings as Bishopston were bowled out for 135 from the penultimate ball of the 36th over.

The hosts were set a revised target of 128 from 42 overs, which looked a long way off from 9-3 as Rob Woodman (3), Grant Davey (2) and Harry Thomas (1) fell early.

Under-15 Charlie Sharland showed his promise with an invaluable 36 as part of a 66-run stand with Harrison, who anchored the chase after Sharland's dismissal.

Harrison also lost the company of Harry Smith (5) and Stephens (5) but found a willing partner in Sam Shaikh (9 no).

Harrison held firm to end unbeaten on 51 from 89 deliveries as the Deane got home with 7.5 overs to spare.

Taunton Deane are now 23 points clear at the summit and travel to Weston-super-Mare on Saturday (12.30pm).

****

TAUNTON'S game at Keynsham lasted just 9.1 overs before the rain took over.

The hosts raced to 63-0 in the time available but the weather ensured an early end to a match between two sides still looking over their shoulders towards the bottom of the table.

This Saturday, Taunton host Ilminster (12.30pm).

WEPL Somerset Division

Wellington 183-7 beat Bridgwater 2nds 160-9 by 23 runs

WELLINGTON have opened up what could be a crucial gap of 14 points from the relegation zone, writes David Derrick.

They saw off Bridgwater 2nd XI at home last weekend when the rain and the wind had a profound effect on play.

With 17 points claimed, second place is only 27 points away with three to play.

Wellington lost the toss and were asked to bat first and saw Sam Whitefield and Nathan Roberts react very well indeed as they added 78 first up with Roberts making a fine 29 as he batted with attention to the task in hand.

Whitefield provided the runs early on for the Red and Blacks as he hit 53 with two sixes to be fourth out with the score on 110.

Wellington did lose two more wickets not long after so as to be 127-6, but Luke Desave, with 37, was supported well by Rob Moysey and Jack Derrick to get the final total to 183-7 in 42 overs.

Matt Habberfield, with 3-34 in nine overs, was in good form for Bridgwater.

Bridgwater started their reply well enough through Tom Pople and Liam Kitch, but when Arron Campbell took a good slip catch to see the back of Kitch off Luke Desave (8-4-11-3), the visitors fell away to 54-5 as Rob Moysey got in the wicket-taking routine with an eventual analysis of 8-2-17-3.

Billy Vickery, with 47, did all he could to get Bridgwater’s reserves going again but the rate was just too much in the end although Callum Pope, with 24 and Kieran Windsor, with 20, gave it a go.

Wellington ended the game as 19-run victors under the DLS method with Jack Beal and Will Derrick taking late wickets.

****

JUST one over was possible before rain ruined Minehead’s match at home to Taunton Deane 2nds.

Minehead were 1-0 when the weather intervened.

This Saturday, Minehead travel to second-placed Wembdon with Taunton Deane 2nds hosting Wellington.

****

FROME sealed their inevitable promotion from the WEPL Somerset Division with a comfortable 115-run win over Street on Saturday.

Frome have been pacesetters all season and have won 13 of their 15 matches to date.

Former Somerset batsman Robin Lett made 119 in Saturday’s victory, his third century of a prolific season which has seen him score 738 runs at an average of 67.09.

Their star with the ball has been Reece Croker, who has taken a superb 53 wickets at an average of 11.36.

Frome will be in Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset in 2020.