CRICKET: Louis Kraucamp hits century as Ilminster beat Shapwick & Polden

LOUIS Kraucamp's superb century led Ilminster to a crushing victory away to Shapwick & Polden on Saturday, as the visitors posted a total of 269, which was 102 runs too good for the home side.

Shapwick won the toss and chose to field, but could find no inroads against the Ilminster openers, Kraucamp and Jonny Warry.

The former helped himself to six 4s and six 6s in a stellar 105 off 110 balls, while Warry cracked 10 4s and three 6s in his impressive 81 from 144 balls.

The opening stand was worth 184 runs, at which point Warry was caught off Ben Rudge, but Kraucamp and new partner Sam Spurway were undeterred.

Kraucamp eventually fell, bowled by Rudge, with the score on 226, but Jon Hurford added 12 and Josh Lee 13no to Spurway's unbeaten 31, as Ilminster finished their 50 overs on a mighty 269-3.

Rudge took 2-37 off 10 overs and Steve Coppell 1-53 off 10 on what was a tough day for Shapwick's bowlers – Harry Woolway going for 0-74 off 10.

Come the reply, wickets fell regularly, as all five bowlers used by the away side claimed at least one dismissal.

Harry Montacute was first to strike, trapping Stephen Tinnion (17) lbw, and 22-1 became 30-2 when Sam Grinter removed Sam Edmunds (10).

Will Mason (25) and Wayne Spencer (28) got Shapwick moving again, but James Thompson accounted for Mason to leave the hosts on 73-3.

John Stratton added 21 but was stumped by Lee off the bowling of Matt Davis, before Thompson removed both Matthew Boswell (0) and Rudge (5), and when Davis had Spencer caught by Kraucamp, Shapwick were staring down the barrel at 118-7.

James Haggett hit 12 before he too fell to Davis, only for Coppell to resist with an unbeaten 30.

His efforts were in vain, though, as Charlie Vickery dismissed Woolway (4) and then Montacute finished what he'd started, clean bowling Joe Mason (5).

That meant the hosts were all out for 167 in 45.3 overs, as Davis took 3-21 off 10 overs, Thompson 3-32 off 10 and Montacute 2-39 off 8.3 for Ilminster.

Twenty points for Ilminster sees them sit fourth in the table, and this Saturday they go to third-placed Taunton Deane (12.30pm start).

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West of England Premier League
Somerset Division
Chard 212-8 beat Yeovil 211 by 2 wkts

CHARD made it four wins out of four in WEPL Somerset this season, as Harvey Dening’s 97 guided them past Yeovil by two wickets.

Visitors Chard won the toss and put their hosts into bat, with no breakthrough forthcoming until Chris Scott – enjoying a sensational start to the campaign – had Jacob Hayes (15) caught by Nathan Johnson.

Scott struck again to remove Jack Fuller (9), but it took his fellow spinner Jon Dalwood to take care of the dangerous Calum Gundry (58), Pete Moxom with the catch.

Jonathan Scott then removed Ben Hurlock (6), before Dalwood dismissed Duncan McCabe and Dan Legg, both for ducks, and from 102-3 Yeovil had collapsed to 120-6.

Daniel Ewens and Ben Ford steadied the ship, though, reaching 175 before Ewens (33) fell to Jonathan Scott.

The last three wickets to fall were all run-outs, Mark Mitchell going for 11, Alex Murphy three and Ford 44, as Yeovil were all out for 211 off 48.5 overs.

Dalwood ended with fine figures of 3-19 off 10 overs for Chard, with Chris Scott taking 2-38 off 10 and Jonathan Scott 2-37 off eight.

Jonathan Scott made 17 with the bat before falling to Murphy, but Johnson and Dening put together a very handy second-wicket partnership, reaching 84, at which point Johnson went for 30.

Pete Moxom added 26, but Akhona Jeremiah Mbanga, Liam Cleal and Danny Cleal all went for three runs apiece, leaving Chard on 160-6.

Aided by Dalwood (15no), Dening added another 30 runs to his tally, and although he eventually succumbed to Ford (3-51 off 10 overs) for 97, at 209-7 the visitors were just three runs away.

Chris Scott fell to Fuller (2-39 off 7.2), but Dalwood and Joe Draper (1no) finished the job.

Chard sit five points clear of Frome, who have also won four from four.

It’s a top-of-the-table clash this Saturday, as the leaders welcome Frome to Dening Field for a 12.30pm start.

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West of England Premier League
Somerset Division
Minehead 234-9 beat North Perrott 165 by 69 runs

NORTH Perrott suffered their second straight defeat in WEPL Somerset, as Alastair Harrison’s 85 inspired Minehead to victory by 69 runs.

Perrott won the toss and put their hosts in to bat first, reducing them to 41-3 as Joshua Marshall-James (3-63) removed the top of the order.

But Harrison cracked 10 4s in his 85, supported by Andrew Woodward (27) and Darren Sherring (22no) as the hosts recorded 234-9 from their 50 overs.

Stacy Hawes took 2-28, Max Dicker 2-44 and Jack Henderson 2-50 for Perrott.

The reply got off to a bad start, falling to 9-2, as Stephen Hayes (2-14) struck.

Gordon Whorlow (16) and Jake Symes (77) led a fightback, but aside from George Johnson’s 29, the rest of the order could not fire, tumbling from 152-6 to 165 all out.

Woodward took 2-40 and Dan Bowditch 2-46 from their 10 overs.

Fifth in the table, Perrott go to Bridgwater 2nds, who are third, this coming Saturday (12.30pm start).