WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Ilminster 282-7 beat Taunton 175 by 107 runs

ILMINSTER ended a fine season in fitting style as Sam Spurway’s century led them to a comfortable victory at home to Taunton on Saturday.

Spurway struck six fours and four sixes in his 106 and his stand with Charlie Vickery (90) proved the match-defining one, as the pair took the game away from Taunton following the relatively early loss of both opening batsmen.

Ilminster finished with 282-7 from their 50 overs, but the struggling visitors started their reply well and progressed to 120-1.

The hosts then brought their spinners on and Matt Davis picked up the key wickets of Charles Clist (56) and Alex Sparks (38), after which the Taunton innings folded.

Davis finished with 4-31 from 10 overs as Taunton subsided to 175 all out, sealing a 107-run victory for Ilminster which wrapped up second place in the table behind champions - and the only promoted side in the division - Lansdown.

It has been an impressive season overall for Ilminster, with the first team’s success backed up by the second team’s promotion from Division 3 of the Somerset League and the thirds’ title win in Division 8S.

Ilminster’s Craig Rice said: “It has been a really enjoyable summer - we couldn’t have asked for much more.

“The availability has been strong throughout, which makes a big difference. 

“We knew that our best side would be capable of challenging towards the top of Premier 2, and so it has proved.

“To be runners-up in both the league and the SCB Major Cup [Ilminster narrowly lost to Bath in the final] represents a successful season.

“The spirit across the whole club has been great, helped by the second and third teams doing so well - we have been able to field three full sides every week - and we have been really well supported both in our home matches and in the cup final at the County Ground.”

WEPL Somerset
Wembdon 168-5 beat Chard 165 by 5 wkts

CHARD concluded a mixed campaign with a five-wicket defeat at home to Wembdon on Saturday.

The hosts were asked to bat upon losing the toss and were indebted to the patience of opener Harvey Dening early on, as he held firm while wickets fell around him.

Dening and Akhona Mbanga (20) took the score to 83 when the latter became the fourth wicket to fall, and the opener passed his half-century before becoming the eighth man having scored 78 of Chard’s 140.

Joe Draper (18) helped push the score to 165 all out and Chard gave themselves a chance as opening bowlers Richard Scott (2-46) and Mbanga (2-25) reduced the hosts to 35-3.

Jon Brockwell (58) and Dan Bingham steadied the ship, however, before Mike Watts’ quickfire 42 put the outcome beyond doubt.

Bingham ended unbeaten on 34 and Josh Henry hit the winning runs in the 36th over.

Chard were right in the promotion hunt at the halfway stage but faded as the summer wore on, finishing up in fifth - a position they would have taken if offered it in pre-season.

Chris Scott and Mbanga both topped 50 wickets over the season.

WEPL Somerset
North Perrott 279-3 beat Uphill Castle 263-9 by 16 runs

NORTH Perrott concluded their title-winning season with a narrow victory in a high-scoring contest at home to Uphill Castle on Saturday.

Gordon Whorlow was the star for the hosts, batting right through the 50 overs on his way to a superb 135 not out.

The opener was well supported by half-centuries from John Ireland (50) and George Retter, who made 52 not out from just 32 balls to end the innings in style.

Perrott started strongly with the ball and reduced their visitors to 15-2, but Andy Llewellyn then dominated a 109-run stand with G. Lloyd.

Another century stand followed between Llewellyn and George Cox as Uphill progressed to 228-3, at which point Llewellyn fell to his fellow centurion Whorlow for an excellent 101.

Whorlow (4-54) then removed Cox for 59 and the batting fell apart thereafter, as the visitors finished 16 runs short on 263-9.

This was Perrott’s 15th win in 18 matches this season, a fine record which sees them deservedly finish 32 points clear at the top of WEPL Somerset.

They will play in Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset next season.