WEPL Premier Two

Cheltenham 276-7 beat Taunton 202 by 74 runs

TAUNTON’s title ambitions took a double jolt on Saturday when they went down to a heavy defeat at Cheltenham while leaders Potterne thrashed Weston-super-Mare by 180 runs.

Cheltenham won the toss and batted and, although Ben Phillips trapped Matt Jennings in front for four, 30-1 soon became 109-1 as Michael Kelly and Kieran Smith enjoyed themselves hitting 11 4s and two 6s between them before Somerset’s Tom Abell had Kelly caught by Jon Kerslake for 46.

Smith went for 54 as Graham Fitt had him caught by Rob Dickins and, when James Waters was bowled by Ben Phillips for 12, Taunton were back in the game but Peter Woodland had other ideas.

Along with Aled Howell, who was bowled by Abell for 33, and James Schofield, who went the same way for 13, Woodland added 100 and, with a late 13 from Harry Arthur, Cheltenham reached a useful 276-7 from their 45 overs with Phillips ending with 2-53, Popplewell 1-53, Abell 3-55 and Fitt 1-43.

In reply, Abell and Phillips got off to a good start before Jennings claimed the latter for 13 on 44 and when Abell and Jack Cooper went it was 53-3.

Brad Lynch dug in for his 52 but Charles Clist was bowled by Jennings for nine and Fitt went for a single.

Freddie Oldfield stuck around for 37 but, when he was out, Taunton still needed 100 to win and without the runs from prolific opener Marcus Harris, who had returned to Australia during the week, they were never really in the game late on.

Rob Dickins hit a run-a-ball 25 and Max Kelly was run out for 11 as Taunton were dismissed for 202 with five 26 balls left.