Ilminster CC 1st XI 230 / 3 (28) def. Bridgwater CC 2nd XI 195 / All out (26.2)

ILMINSTER Cricket Club First XI earned a 35-run victory at the weekend in a very tense battle with Bridgwater CC Seconds at home.

The result earned them 20 points in the WEPL Premier Two Bristol/Somerset division and sees them move up to fifth place in the table.

In the match, Adeesha Nanayakkara scored an impressive 115 runs off 89 balls to help Ilminster to the win.

After winning the toss, Bridgwater chose to field first and perhaps regretted the decision as conditions changed throughout the match.

Ilminster openers Sam Spurway and Nanayakkara got off to a flying start and really set the tone of the innings.

Spurway scored 40 off 37 balls and smashed 7 fours in the process to help set up his teammate Nanayakkara at the other end of the crease.

When Spurway was caught by Callum Pope from a Ross Deans delivery, Ben Johnston replaced him.

He added a very important 25 runs in 18 balls which featured two sixes, but his wicket brought Jon Hurford to the middle.

He scored 25 runs also before 28 overs came up, the half way point in this restricted overs match due to the weather.

But special mention must go to Nanayakkara, as his century came off 89 balls, and included 12 fours and 3 sixes all for a strike rate of 129.21. An truly impressive knock.

In reply, Bridgwater Seconds struggled to gather momentum as the Ilminster bowlers ran riot.

Bridgwater had some strong scores from Chris Singleton (46), Tom Fursland (40), Billy Vickery (32) and Oliver Gribble (27).

However the majority of those scores came at the tail end of the order as Bridgwater were fighting an uphill battle.

They were all out for 195 in the 27th over and the win went to Ilminster.

Charlie Vickery and Sam Grinter both took four-wicket hauls as they dominated with the ball.

Vickery had the best figures going for 33 runs in his six overs, but Grinter too had a great performance going for 42 runs.

All in all a strong win for Ilminster who will look to do the same next weekend at home to Weston-super-Mare CC.