Golden Hill CC 1st XI 211 / All out (46.2) lost to Ilminster CC 1st XI 256 / 9 (50)

ILMINSTER Cricket Club looked good in a 45-run victory at the weekend away from home against Golden Hill CC.

The match in the WEPL Premier One Bristol/Somerset division was a high scoring affair in which Sam Spurway and Ben Johnston enjoying good innings for Ilminster.

The result takes Ilminster to fifth place in the league table and sees a strong return to form.

After winning the toss, Golden Hill chose to field first and opening batters Spurway and Adeesha Nanayakkara took to the pitch.

Nanayakkara scored 18 runs before he was dismissed, and Finn Kelsey, who followed at three, was out for a duck soon after.

The slow start didn't last long though as Johnston came to the crease and along with Spurway, the pair went on a scoring spell.

Spurway ended on 82 runs off 124 balls featuring 11 fours and a six, while Johnston scored 80 runs off 105 balls hitting 8 fours and 4 sixes on the way.

Wickets fell rather quickly once this partnership was broken, but Ilminster had done enough to set a very strong score of 256 for 9 in their 50 overs.

Daniel Broome finished with the best bowling figures for the hosts, taking three wickets for 28 runs off seven overs.

In reply, Golden Hill also made a slow start as wickets fell rather quickly at the top order.

Opener Daaryoush Ahmed was first to go when he was clean bowled by Sam Grinter for just 11 runs.

Batting at three, Cyrus Shafi was the next to go as he was caught by Spurway off a Grinter ball for a duck.

The other opener, Sam Brooks, followed soon after when he was caught by Finn Kelsey from a Nanayakkara delivery for 32 runs.

Then Harry Thomas was caught by Lachlan Rice off Nanayakkara for 16 runs and Golden Hill were 75 for 4.

Daniel Whetton was soon clean bowled by Lachlan Rice for 15 runs and things looked bleak for the home side.

A middle order stand from Joshua Beal (59) and Toheed Hamid (36) could not save the innings either as the hosts fell to a defeat.

Nanayakkara was the star man taking five wickets in 8.2 overs for just 23 runs while Johnston and Grinter had two wickets each.

Up next for Ilminster is a home match against bottom of the table Bridgwater CC Seconds on Saturday.