WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset

Ilminster 209 beat Keynsham 202 by 7 runs

JAMES Thompson claimed brilliant figures of 6-17 from 10 overs to inspire a youthful Ilminster side to victory over Keynsham on Saturday.

The hosts, having secured their place in the division for next year with last week’s victory, opted to give opportunities to Michael McNee (15 years old) and Sammi Khan (14).

Having opted to bat, Ilminster openers Louis Kraucamp (25) and George Hayward (38) got their side off to a decent start, and there were contributions right down the order.

No-one went on to make a massive score, but McNee (21), Josh Lee (30), Ian Masters (16), Keelan Ashby (26), Sam Spurway (20) and Thompson (14) all contributed good runs.

Harry Mattingley claimed 3-48 off nine overs for Keynsham, and Sam Wheller a tidy 2-25 off 10, as the hosts were all out for 209 from 48.1 overs.

The away side’s reply looked well set when their top three batsmen Tom Bancroft (30), Will Burston (34) and Daniel Jarman (35) got off to positive starts.

Alex Taylor added 19, but the rest of the middle order suffered at the hands of Thompson – five of his six victims being clean bowled.

Ninth man in Ben Clarke (21no) threatened to get his team over the line, though, until George Hayward (2-7 off three) and Charlie Vickery (1-19 off six) conspired to hustle Keynsham out in 47 overs, seven runs short.

Ilminster’s Craig Rice said: “James’ spin bowling is one of the best in the league, and his spell proved to be match-winning for us.

“It was an experimental line-up, but nice to win.

“We’re very pleased with the team performance; everyone contributed with the bat, and Michael and Sammi both bowled well.”

Sitting in fifth place, Ilminster go to fourth-placed Bishopston this Saturday (12.30pm), for their final match of the 2019 season.

Rice added: “We’ll mix things up again at Bishopston.

“If you’d offered us fourth or fifth place at the start of the year, given we’ve had three weddings and the player unavailability that comes with it, we’d be pretty pleased with that.”

WEPL Somerset

Taunton Deane 2nds 139-9 beat Chard 138 by 1 wkt

CHARD’S topsy-turvy season continued as they lost a game they should have won on Saturday.

Chard batted first and a good platform was laid by Reid Mawdsley (34) but the hosts slid from 52-1 to 67-6 as the Deane’s spinning Burgess brothers wreaked havoc on a turning pitch.

Danny Cleal (15), Nathan Warren (17) and Richard Scott (15no) lifted Chard to 138, a competitive total, and the Deane were struggling at 47-4 in reply.

Chard’s spinners Jon Dalwood (3-22 from 10) and Chris Scott (3-37 from 10) chipped away but they couldn’t budge Alistair Warren.

Chard were favourites at 85-7, then 119-9, but a last-wicket stand between Warren and Tom Burgess (8no) saw the Deane home.

Warren finished unbeaten on 55, the only Deane batsman to make double figures.

Chard could finish anywhere between third and seventh depending on the outcome of Saturday’s season finale at Yeovil.

On Sunday, Chard CC players past and present gathered for the Jeff Day memorial match in honour of the former club chairman who passed away earlier this season.

The match was an entertaining one and £500 was raised towards a defibrillator for the club.