CRICKET: Weekend of contrasts for Ilminster, Chard and North Perrott

ILMINSTER suffered final ball heartbreak in the SCB Major Cup final against Bath at the County Ground on Sunday.

Bath needed eight going into the final over, bowled by Louis Kraucamp, and the first four balls brought a wicket and just two runs.

Star man Tim Rouse was on strike for the final two deliveries, however, and hit both for four to finish on 68 not out and seal victory for the Premier 1 outfit.

Earlier, Kraucamp had made 55 as he and Sam Spurway (46) led Ilminster to a competitive 145-6.

The wickets were shared around the Ilminster attack in reply as their large contingent of travelling support got right behind them, but it wasn’t to be despite a valiant effort.

BIG SCORE: Ilminster's Louis Kraucamp. Pic: Ash Magill

West of England Premier League 
Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Ilminster 219 beat Taunton Deane 218 by 1 run

ILMINSTER experienced the other side of a tight contest with a thrilling one-run win over Taunton Deane on Saturday which keeps their Premier 2 promotion hopes alive.

Ilminster batted first and, led by Matt Davis, recovered from a shaky start to move towards a competitive score.

Davis made 79 and was well backed up by Charlie Vickery (34) and the lower order as the hosts made 219-8 from their 50 overs.

The Deane flew out the traps in reply as they threatened to make Ilminster’s total look inadequate, with skipper Rob Woodman moving to an effortless half-century.

Leg-spinner Michael McNee, a 14-year-old making his first team debut, claimed the key wicket of Woodman for 59 as he was caught on the boundary, and the teenager finished with impressive figures of 1-35 from 10 overs.

That sparked a flurry of wickets and Ilminster looked well set to wrap up a relatively comfortable win until they met resistance in the form of ninth-wicket pair Shohel Rana (29*) and Tom Walsh (15).

Walsh fell with 10 still needed but the visitors inched towards their target until number 11 Edward Mellor’s eyes lit up at a George Hayward full toss with two required.

Every fielder was around the bat barring Louis Kraucamp at deep mid-wicket, who couldn’t believe his luck as Mellor picked him out and Ilminster sealed the narrowest of victories.

Ilminster, sat second, travel to Midsomer Norton on Saturday.

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WEPL Somerset Division
Frome 211 beat Chard 52 by 159 runs

CHARD suffered a heavy defeat to fellow title challengers Frome on Saturday, as they were bowled out for just 52 runs.

Hosts Frome decided to bat first, and although Chard took regular wickets, Sam Croker's unbeaten 64 was at the heart of their innings as they reached 211.

Harvey Dening took 3-60 off 10 for the visitors, aided by Chris Scott's 2-25 and Richard Scott's 2-32, but the attack also conceded 42 Extras.

That total proved well out of reach, as Chard plunged to 8-3 and then 24-6, as all of the top six went for single-figure scores.

Richard (16) and Chris (8) Scott held the fort for a while, but ultimately they could only resist for so long against Tom Barton (5-23) and Reece Croker (5-29).

All out in 14.2 overs, Chard are now 30 points behind league leaders North Perrott, who visit them this coming Saturday (12.30pm start).

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TON UP: North Perrott's Jack Henderson celebrates his century against Bridgwater 2nds. Pic: Adrian Hopper

WEPL Somerset Division
North Perrott 301-9 beat Bridgwater II 194 by 107 runs

NORTH Perrott remain in pole position in the WEPL Somerset Division promotion chase, sitting 13 points clear of second-placed Frome after a comfortable win over Bridgwater 2nd XI on Saturday.

Gordon Whorlow (2) fell unusually early as the hosts chose to bat first, but George Retter (65) and Alex Eckland (55) took their side past 100 runs.

Both batters, and skipper Jake Symes, fell in quick succession to leave Perrott 133-4, but that only brought Jack Henderson into play.

He helped himself to 100 off 98 balls, with 12 4s and a 6, to really get the hosts moving.

By the time he fell to Chris Singleton (2-39 off eight overs), there were 295 runs on the board, with Joshua Marshall-James adding 41 in support.

Set 302 to win, Bridgwater were up against it as soon as Marshall-James (2-34 off 10) removed both openers to leave them 39-2.

Then it was the turn of the spinners to cause damage, Lorraine Szczepanski taking 1-28 off 10 and Whorlow 3-35 off 10.

Will Moyse contributed 31, Scott Clapp 33 and Sethan Locke 46 for the away side, but they were all out for 194 off the penultimate ball.