WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Ilminster 1st XI (116-6) beat Lansdown 1st XI (115 all out) by four wickets

ILMINSTER picked up a crucial win at home to bottom side Lansdown on Saturday, underpinned by three wickets and a half-century from Louis Kraucamp.

This was their second league victory of the season, and the ideal response to their 85-run defeat to Taunton St Andrew’s the weekend before.

The hosts won the toss and elected to field – a decision which yielded early reward, as Lansdown opener Jordan Smith departed for two, bowled by Harry Montacute.

Fellow opener Josh Smith fared better, scoring 32 before falling to Kraucamp, but the Lansdown middle order was simply not at the races.

J. Addey went for two and Jordan Price 15, before both Harry Veal and Jack Betenson were out for ducks, to Montacute and Richard Elswood, respectively.

Nathan Price (10), Lewis Townsend (10no) and Matt Thomas (19) provided some late resistance, but the visitors were all out for 115 after 34.2 overs.

The wickets were shared between Ilminster’s six bowlers, with Kraucamp finishing with figures 3-24, Elswood 2-20 and Montacute 2-28.

The target did not look terribly imposing, and opener Kraucamp looked intent on reaching it by himself as he built a half-century.

Partnerships were hard to come by for the home side, though, as their top and middle order struggled just as Lansdown’s had – George Hayward (0), Charlie Vickery (1), J. Warry (0) and captain Matt Davis (9) all falling cheaply.

Jon Hurford made 13 in addition to Kraucamp’s 58 (caught by Jordan Price off Addey), leaving Josh Lee and James Thompson (both 5no) to take Ilminster over the line (after 21.4 overs) with four wickets in hand.

For Lansdown, Josh Smith took 2-27 and Veal 2-41.

The result brought 19 points for Ilminster, who sit sixth out of 10 teams in West of England Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset.

Their total of 58 points leaves them 10 points shy of Keynsham in third, and two ahead of Shapwick & Polden and Taunton Deane immediately below them.

This Saturday (June 10, 12.30pm start), Ilminster travel to Claverham (Yatton) 1sts, who are second bottom in the standings, having lost their last four games.

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WEPL Somerset Division
Wembdon 1st XI (264-6 - revised target) beat Chard 1st XI (278-7) by four wickets

CHARD lost their fourth league match out of five against Wembdon on Saturday, and sank to the bottom of the table.

Visitors Chard opted to bat first in search of their first win, but lost Nathan Johnson (4) in the fifth over.

Matthew Micale (112) and skipper Jonathan Scott (65) put together a 119-run partnership, before three quick wickets left Chard on 158-4.

Micale was eventually caught after a superb batting display, but Chris Scott made 69no, helping the away side post a competitive target of 278-7 from 50 overs.

Jonathan Brockwell finished up with 2-39 and Dan Bingham 2-52 for Wembdon.

The hosts’ reply started badly, Bingham (5) caught by Jonathan Scott off Joe Draper, before rainfall saw the contest reduced to a 44-over match, with Wembdon’s target adjusted to 262.

Brockwell (64) and Sam Puddy (53) accelerated, and the fifth-wicket partnership of 111 between Brockwell and Liam Pigden (74) proved decisive.

Karl Trunks (21no) hit the winning runs with three overs left.

Draper took 2-38 and Chris Scott 2-60 for Chard.

The result (Chard taking eight points), combined with Wellington’s win over North Petherton, saw Chard fall into last place, ahead of Minehead’s visit this weekend (1pm).

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A SPARKLING, unbeaten 142 from Harvey Dening led Chard 2nds to a 43-run win against Burnham in Division 2 of the Shrubbery Hotel Somerset League on Saturday.

In reply, Burnham’s openers looked in good form but F. Lewis came on to take 3-37 off nine overs to stem the runs.