CRICKET: Akhona Mbanga takes five-fer as Chard beat Uphill Castle

CHARD went top of WEPL Somerset after a convincing victory at home to Uphill Castle on Saturday – their third win from three to start the season.

Put in on a green wicket, they blunted the early threat with a resolute 35 from Jon Scott and a high-class 80 from Scott Wells-Burr.

The lower order kept up the flow and a challenging 221 was posted.

When Uphill batted the pace and bounce of South African newcomer Akhona Mbanga generated unease.

Aussie Dane Siede was first to go and was quickly followed by George Chapman, both caught behind by skipper Jed Warren off Mbanga.

Chard’s left-arm spin duo were then introduced and worked their way through the middle order.

A solid 42 from skipper Andy Llewellyn was the only real resistance as Chris Scott continued his super start to the season with 4-30 and Jon Dalwood claimed 1-19.

Mbanga then returned to sweep away the tail and finish with 5-36 as Uphill fell well short.

This coming Saturday, Chard travel to Yeovil (12.30pm start).

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WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Keynsham 215-3 beat Ilminster 215-8 by 7 wkts

ILMINSTER saw a super start with the ball slip away as they were beaten by seven wickets at home to Keynsham on Saturday.

The hosts, missing Sam Spurway and James Thompson, batted first and made a strong start, with Louis Kraucamp and Jonny Warren sharing a solid opening partnership which took Ilminster past 60.

Warren fell for 22 to provide the visitors with their first wicket, and last weekend’s centurion Kraucamp looked well set for another before he departed with 62 to his name.

Thereafter it was a frustrating innings for Ilminster, with several batsmen making starts without kicking on as they looked to push the scoring rate up.

The lack of a meaningful partnership in the middle to lower order saw Ilminster complete their overs on 215-8, around 30 or 40 short of what the hosts were aiming for at the outset.

To begin with it looked like more than enough, however, as Harry Montacute struck twice in the opening over of Keynsham’s reply, including a wicket with his first ball.

Sam Grinter then got in on the act, claiming a victim of his own clean bowled in his first over to leave the visitors on 5-3 after two overs.

That was as good as it got for Ilminster, as Paul Robbins and visiting skipper Daniel Jarman compiled a match-winning stand.

There was a huge appeal - from both the players and those watching as part of another sizeable crowd - for a catch behind off Jarman’s glove which would have left Keynsham struggling on 30-4, but the umpire remained unmoved and from then on the pair continued untroubled.

Robbins brought up his century and finished on 101 not out, with Jarman contributing an unbeaten 86, to leave Ilminster ruing defeat in a game which slipped from their grasp.

With one win and two defeats from their three matches so far, Ilminster face a tough test on Saturday as they travel to Shapwick & Polden.

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WEPL Somerset Division
Frome 190-6 beat North Perrott 187-8 by 4 wkts

NORTH Perrott lost for the first time this season in WEPL Somerset, as visitors Frome continued their unbeaten start.

Perrott won the toss and chose to bat first, with Gordon Whorlow (41) and George Retter (25) reaching 51 before Retter fell.

Skipper Jack Symes contributed 16 and Jack Henderson a fine 57, but no-one else reached double figures as Reece Croker (3-44) and Mark Watts (2-48) disrupted their momentum.

The hosts reached 187-8 off their 50 overs, then had early joy in the field when Stacy Hawes (1-32) had Robin Lett (2) caught by Retter.

But Paul Sanger and Croker got things moving again, as Croker reached a brisk 45 (with 10 fours) before being caught and bowled by Henderson (1-35).

George Johnson (2-29) saw off Richard Potter (13) and Joe Smart (11), but Sanger wasn’t going anywhere, his unbeaten 69 coming off 90 balls, with 11 fours.

Sanger and Charlie Smith (4no) saw Frome home with four wickets and 14.5 overs to spare, as they collected 19 points to Perrott’s six.

The result leaves Perrott fourth in the table, and this Saturday they go to Minehead.