WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Som
Ilminster 203-6 beat Taunton Deane 202-8 by 4 wkts

CRAIG Rice produced a superb cameo with the bat as Ilminster overcame Taunton Deane with just two balls to spare in WEPL Premier 2 on Saturday.

The Deane won the toss and elected to bat, a decision which initially looked a wise one as Robert Woodman and Jack Fraser made a solid start.

Richard Elswood (1-25) had Fraser caught by Matt Davis for 27 to bring the hosts their first wicket, and from then on it was the James Thompson show as he dismissed four of the top five.

His scalps included Woodman for a well-compiled 57 and visiting skipper Harry Thomas for 19 as he ended with impressive figures of 4-27 from 10 overs.

Ilminster kept the pressure on thereafter as Sam Grinter (1-41) and Charlie Vickery (2-54) got their names in the wickets column.

Lorenzo Machado injected some late momentum into the Deane innings with three 4s and two 6s in his 31-ball 43 to take the side past 200, with the visitors concluding their 50 overs on 202-8.

The majority of Ilminster’s bowlers contributed well, with Adam Cox (0-37 off 10) going wicketless but keeping it tight.

Ilminster openers George Hayward and Charlie Vickery got the run chase off to a strong start, with their contrasting styles complimenting each other in the early stages of the innings.

Vickery was the aggressor, ticking along at a run a ball before he was caught and bowled by Woodman for 26, while Hayward was more cautious and constructed a patient 48.

Captain Sam Spurway hit a vital half-century in the middle order, hitting three 4s and a six in his 58, but the outcome was back in the balance when he fell along with Davis (5) and Josh Lee (6).

Enter Rice, who cleared the ropes three times in his match-winning unbeaten 31 which came from just 23 balls and swung a tight game in Ilminster’s favour.

Thompson added to his earlier four-wicket haul with an unbeaten five as he accompanied Rice at the death for a victory which keeps Ilminster fourth in the table ahead of this weekend’s final round of WEPL fixtures.

Ilminster go in search of their ninth win of a satisfying season on Saturday when they round off their campaign with a long trip to Keynsham, who sit two places below Ilminster in the table.

WEPL Somerset
Weston-super-Mare 275-8 beat Chard 59 by 216 runs

CHARD were put to the sword by league leaders Weston-super-Mare on Saturday, as the star-studded hosts consigned the visitors to a chastening defeat.

Somerset pair Ryan Davies and Peter Trego lined up for the home side and, though Trego was dismissed by Chris Scott (3-60) for 15, Davies took the game by the scruff of the neck and scored his fourth century of the season.

The 20-year-old’s 105 contained 11 fours and five 6s, but his innings was brought to an end when Richard Scott (3-45) had him caught by Jonathan Scott.

Pete Moxom (1-35) and Nathan Johnson (1-30) took late wickets, and Weston opted to declare on 275-8.

Chard were blown away in reply, with the tone set when Jonathan Scott (6) was clean bowled by Trego (3-20).

Opener Nathan Johnson (14) was the only Chard batsman to make it into double figures, with Ashley Allen (3-14), Tom Chambers (3-16) and Charl Willoughby (1-8) wreaking havoc with the ball.

The visitors held out for 30 overs until the last wicket fell with their score on 59, meaning they are not completely out of relegation danger going into Saturday’s final match of the season.

They do hold a 20-point cushion over second-bottom Temple Cloud, however, which should be enough - Chard will look to make sure with a win over Bridgwater 2nds.

WEPL Somerset
North Perrott 248-4d beat Temple Cloud 130 by 118 runs

NORTH Perrott ensured the WEPL Somerset title race will go down to the final weekend of the season after dispatching Temple Cloud on Saturday.

After the early loss of George Retter for a duck, captain Gordon Whorlow led by example and scored 99 at the top of the order before being run out just one short of his century.

There were also half-centuries for Alex Eckland (64) and run machine Troy Johnson (63) as Perrott declared on 248-4.

Eckland then took the new ball and removed both openers early, with Stacy Hawes (1-28) also chipping in as the visitors fell to 20-3.

Whorlow (2-31) dismissed the only two batsmen to go beyond 20, Kevin Curtis (37) and Miles Hackett (21), before Johnson ran through the tail to end with 4-20 as Temple Cloud, whose defeat leaves them staring relegation in the face, slipped to 130 all out.

Weston-super-Mare’s thumping win over Chard means they stay top with a nine-point advantage going into the final matches of the season on Saturday.

Both title challengers are away for the season’s conclusion – Perrott travel to seventh-placed Minehead, while Weston face mid-table North Petherton.