West of England Premier Cricket League
Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Ilminster 1st XI 230-6 beat Taunton Deane 1st XI 229 all out by 4 wkts

ILMINSTER completed a near-perfect June with a fourth consecutive league win, keeping them in touch with the top three in WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset.

Consistent scoring saw them past hosts Taunton Deane, despite Lorenzo Machado making 104 for the home side.

The visitors won the toss and elected to field, which looked a good decision as Sam Grinter had opener Sam Underdown caught by Charlie Vickery for a duck.

Underdown’s fellow opener Machado wasn’t shifting, though, the Deane wicketkeeper building a big score.

Support was an issue for the hosts, however, as Grinter saw off Harry Thomas (10), and Vickery dispatched Calvin Harrison (26) and Alastair Warren (0).

Matt Davis bowled Henry Mellor (11), before Harry Smith also went for a duck (bowled by Kieron Boucher).

Rob Pryke came in at eight and made a handy 31, before falling to Louis Kraucamp – who also claimed the prize wicket of Machado, for 104.

When the last wicket fell, with two balls of the Deane overs remaining, the hosts had amassed a competitive total of 229 all out.

For Ilminster, Vickery took 3-42 off 6.4 overs, Grinter 2-29 off nine and Kraucamp 2-41 off 10.

Kraucamp quickly started eating into the Deane total, but he lost partners George Hayward (4) and Vickery (2) quickly, both caught behind by Machado off Pryke (3-36 off 10 overs).

Captain Sam Spurway built a more stable partnership with Kraucamp, as he made 44 to the latter’s 59.

The pair took Ilminster a long way towards their target, but still work needed to be done by the middle order.

Fortunately for the visitors, they stepped up, as Jonny Warry made 14, Davis 37, Josh Lee 19no and Craig Rice 13no.

They were also helped by Deane’s bowlers conceding 38 extras to their 16.

Ilminster passed their target in 47.2 overs, earning 22 points.

They are fourth in the table, two points off third-placed Glastonbury and four behind Bishopston in second.

Ilminster host seventh-placed Keynsham this coming Saturday (July 1, 12.30pm).