ILMINSTER A picked up their first win of the season in Division 6 thanks to a solid team batting display which saw them chase down the 192-7 posted by Purnell’s 2nds.

They reached their target for the loss of just four wickets with three overs in hand as T Crawley (43 not) and A Fish (38 not) put together a match-winning stand.

L Williams also made 37 while T Goss chipped in with 28.

The bowlers had not found it easy but H Brown took 2-28 in nine overs and M Haywood 3-58 in 12.

North Perrott have stretched their lead in Division 1 to 28 points following a seven wicket defeat of Purnells.

Once again it was opener G Whorlow who led the run chase with 65 not out as North Perrott chased down Purnell’s 123 all out in 38 overs.

S Hawes (3-42 in 12) and W Ireland (2-16 in 5) both bowled tidily while N Bond took 4-53 in 12 and M Downing picked up the final wicket without conceding a run.

Barrington’s batsmen struggled at Cheddar in Division 2 as they were dismissed for just 96.

Only three batmen scored more than two, and had No6 S Gerring struck 35 not out the total could have been really embarrasssing.

Cheddar knocked off the runs in just 16 overs although D Brain made sure they didn’t have it all their own way with 1-17 in seven.

North Perrott 2nds compiled 188-5 against Street 2nds in Division 3 with opener J Ireland scoring 62.

But if they thought that was a defendable total they were very much mistaken.

After Street’s openers had seen off the first few overs, T Hill arrived at the crease and smashed 126 not out to see his side home in just 33 overs.

South Petherton lifted themselves off the bottom of Division 4 with just their second win of the season.

However it was nail-biting stuff as the match was only decided on the fourth ball of the final over.

Staplegrove 2nds’ needed eight to win from the final three balls with one wicket in hand when A Pickford (3-34) grabbed the vital wicket.

South Petherton had compiled 173 all out, a total based on 60 from opener P Acreman.

Chard A suffered an eight wicket defeat in Division 7 at the hands of Taunton St Andrews A.

They promised much, with D Crew (63) and R Barrett (40) putting together a handy third wicket partnership.

But once they were out the innings collapsed 144 all out as nobody else was able to score any more than three.

The damage was done by Saints fifth and sixth bowlers, with M Baldock taking 4-24 and I Hockey 4-13.

Chard’s total never looked like being enough as C Wyatt (46) and M Jenkins (35 not) helped the home side to victory in 31 overs.

Crewkerne have been joined at the top of the division by Winscombe 2nds despite beating Burnham 2nds by 85 runs to pick up their fifth win in six outings.

Crewkerne rattled up 258-4, opener P Palfrey top scoring with 90 while other good runs came from J Gould (55), R James (51) and S Rowswell (40 not).

But they were thwarted by a go-slow from opener A Ashfold who batted throughout Burnham’s 45 overs for just 65 not out.

No5 L Coles tried his best with 83 not out but Burnham still fell well short at 173-3.

D Parsons was the pick of the Crewkerne bowlers with 2-22 in ten overs.

South Petherton 2nds collapsed to a calamitous defeat in Division 8N as they were bowled out for just 37 by Evercreech.

Only five batsmen managed to trouble the scorers and No10 Jack White top scored with nine not out.

Needless to say the Evercreech bowling figures made impressive reading, with R White taking 5-12 in six overs M Reed 2-5 in four and C Hector 2-1.

Evercreech had earlier shown their were no terrors in the pitch as they rattled up 241.

At least South Petherton’s G Salter came out of the game with plenty of credit, taking 5-34 in 12 overs, while D Gibbens took 2-18.

Things weren’t a great deal better for North Perrott 3rds who lost to Westlands 3rds by 145 runs in the same division.

S Watts hit 126 not out for the visitors in their total of 253-3 while P Staddon joined in the fun with 73.

North Perrott were always up against it in reply as Westlands’ opening bowler C Marles took 5-20 in 12 overs.

A Bromfield was comfortably North Perrott’s top scorer with 31 in total of 108.

Barrington 2nds were given a handy 35 points when Kilmington and Stourton were unable to raise a side.

Crewkerne 2nds stay top of Division 9SE following a 45 run defeat of Wedmore 2nds.

N Keylock top scored for Crewkerne with 71 in their total of 191-8.

Then a good bowling performance restricted Wedmore despite good knocks by M Lee (53) and R Gamlin (34).

Pick of the Crewkerne bowlers were F Medley (3-33 in 10), S Briggs (3-30 in 7) and A Wellman (2-22 in eight).

Broadway and Horton 2nds, lying third at the start of the day, were involved in a tight tussle with second-placed Trull 2nds before losing by two wickets.

Broadway’s modest total of 138 – based on knocks from L Watkins (40) and P Andrews (30) – looked at times as if it would be enough.

But their hopes were dashed by an unbeaten ninth-wicket stand between S Pike (22 not) and D James (7 not).

Chief wicket-taker for Broadway was J Entwhistle (3-39 in 11).

Chard 750 remained rooted to the bottom of the league after a 114 run defeat by Taunton St Andrews B.

The visitors posted 209-6 and Chard replied with 95 all out as only R Young (32) and S Dening (23) reached double figures.