Somerset Cricket League
Bubble 4
Burnham-on-Sea 160-1 beat Weston-super-Mare II 159-6 by 9 wkts

HAVING lost their league opener to rain the previous weekend, Burnham-on-Sea made the most of dry conditions last Saturday, beating Weston-super-Mare’s second string by nine wickets.

Burnham were asked to have a bowl on what looked to be a decent wicket, and openers Conor Lefrere and Matt Dibble made a superb start with the ball, taking one wicket each to reduce Weston to 7/2, both caught at short mid-wicket by debutant Simon Melhuish.

When asked to have a bowl, Melhuish produced a fine debut spell which ended with figures of 2-17 from eight overs.

Jim Birkett showed fine support from the other end, finishing with 1-24, while Lefrere returned for a second spell and picked up another wicket to finish with 2-26.

A tidy bowling display paired with a good day in the field for the hosts saw Weston limited to 159-6.

Skipper Brad House and Fred Berry went on the attack for Burnham, with the former smashing it to all parts from ball one.

The pair moved quickly to a 50 partnership, from just 5.4 overs.

House then took three consecutive boundaries from the ninth over, bringing up his 50 from 33 balls.

Soon Burnham had moved on to 100 for no wicket in the 13th over.

Berry eventually departed for a well-made 26, which ended a fine 121 partnership and left the home side with just 39 runs needed with a mammoth 25 overs to get them.

Peter Harris joined House, who brought up his century from just 59 balls and finished with 112*.

Harris (14*) did the honours and chipped the ball over mid-off for four to see Burnham over the line in 23.1 overs.

Toner Time Ltd MOTM: Brad House

This Saturday sees Burnham visit Bridgwater 3rds.

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Lympsham & Belvedere 252-4 beat Middlezoy 118 by 134 runs

AFTER losing their first game to rain, Lympsham & Belvedere were emphatic winners at home to Middlezoy on Saturday.

The hosts were put in, and Dave Luff and Nathan Hancock set about laying the foundations.

The pair batted sensibly, putting on a partnership of 87, before the dismissal of Hancock (20) brought in Jack Luff.

Dave Luff looked in fine touch, driving the ball beautifully as he passed his half-century before he fell for 53 (11 fours).

Jack Luff was joined by Jamie Howson on his return to the club, and they punished any loose bowling with ease.

Both were particularly severe on the spinners as they put on a century partnership before Luff (59) was well caught after hitting eight fours and two sixes.

Jim Melmoth claimed 2-51 for Middlezoy, but with Howson finishing on 63* (eight fours and two sixes), Lympsham had racked up 252-4 from their 40 overs.

The visitors’ reply was soon in trouble as another returnee, Michael Broadhead’s opening spell of accurate seam bowling blew away the top order.

He finished with 5-10 from five overs, and although Nathan Barnard hit back with 42, Tom Gooding was introduced and promptly took 5-27 off 7.5 overs to finish Middlezoy off.

Lympsham will aim to put in another good team performance at home to Uphill Castle this coming Saturday.

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ELSEWHERE in Bubble 4, Huntspill & District went down to a six-wicket defeat at home to Wembdon 2nd XI.

Despite 81 from Nick Jones, the hosts were all out for 196, with Mike Watts taking 4-10 and Daniel Watts 3-24.

Daniel Watts (69) led the Wembdon reply, with Philip Curd’s 36* finishing the job; Matt Counsell took 2-30 for the hosts.

Huntspill are due to visit Middlezoy on Saturday.