INFLUENTIAL captain Sam Spurway made a welcome return to playing duties at the weekend for Ilminster Cricket Club.

Although Ilminster fell to another defeat, the return of the skipper should be an important and much-needed boost to the team.

Spurway had been missing for the whole summer due to injury, but returned on Saturday to lead the team for the first time this season.

Ilminster suffered their eighth straight defeat when they went down by 94 runs to Corsham.

Although Corsham built-up a large total of 344-4, Ilminster put in a much-improved batting performance.

Spurway made a quickfire 30 off of 31 balls — a decent first knock of the season for the master batsman.

Ilminster currently prop up the Premier One table in the West of England League and they will need to pull out something very special if they are to avoid the drop.

But club vice-chairman Craig Rice, himself an important member of the first team, has said that the spirit within the club is second to none and that could prove crucial if they are to stage their own Great Escape.

Ilminster travel to old rivals Ashcott and Shapwick this weekend and it is a fixture Spurway and his players will look at the game as one that could see them break their duck.

Ilminster have ten games to play this season — so there is enough cricket to be played and points up for grabs to get them out of trouble.

They are on 34 points and trail Ashcott, who are third from bottom, by 48 points.

A first win of the season on Saturday for Ilminster would reduce that deficit by a decent margin and could be the springboard they are looking for.