West of England Premier 2
Taunton Deane 207-6 beat Keynsham 206-9 by 3 wkts

CLOUDY skies saw Taunton Deane welcome Keynsham for their first league match of the season, writes Jack Fraser. 

The visitors won the toss, elected to bat first and were met with some tight bowling from openers Will Hardwick (10-2-41-2) and Matt Derham (5-1-24-1), with the latter making an early breakthrough. 

Hardwick struck not too long after, thanks to a fantastic catch from Calvin Harrison.

Taunton Deane’s bowling attack was bolstered by Jack Leach, one of county cricket’s premier spinners, who showed his class with exceptional figures of 10-2-19-2. 

The left-armer was ably supported by fellow spinner Harrison (9-0-47-1), and the potentially tricky death overs were delivered superbly by Rob Pryke (8-0-37-1) and the impressive Tom Walsh (8-1-30-1), who picked up a first wicket on his league debut. 

Set a target of 207 to win, Taunton Deane’s innings got off to a fine start with opener Rob Woodman looking as fluent and destructive as ever. 
Woodman was accompanied by Leach, who had looked solid before playing on to his own stumps for 14. 

Harrison joined his captain for the second half-century stand of the innings, showing his obvious talent before Woodman was caught on 63.

Incoming batsman Jack Fraser flattered to deceive, playing some confident shots, and he and Harrison looked to have their team in a relatively comfortable position before both fell in a relatively short space of time - Harrison bowled for 41 and Fraser pulling a short ball straight to mid-wicket for 22.

After Alistair Warren was, possibly harshly, given out - caught behind from his first ball - it was down to debutant Harry Smith and the experienced Russel Jones to try and steer the side home. 

Jones played some typically powerful shots on his way to 39* and was supported brilliantly by Smith, who dug in and refused to give his wicket away cheaply, allowing his partner some freedom. 

A rare rush of blood saw Smith bowled for 13, before Jones and Derham got Taunton Deane across the line with 13 balls to spare.

West of England Premier 2
Taunton St Andrew’s 345-7 beat Claverham 221 by 124 runs

A SCINTILLATING century from captain James Regan saw Taunton St Andrew’s coast to victory at Claverham in their West of England opener on Saturday.

Regan hit 144 and shared a 131 opening partnership with Ed Byrom (55) as the home bowlers took a hammering.

Michael Leask continued the onslaught with a quick-fire 43 and Josh Horler added 38 to see the Saints to 345-7 after their 50 overs.

Charlie Ferris was the pick of the Claverham bowlers, taking 4-51 off seven.

In reply, Claverham opener Mitchell Bench (3) was first to go, trapped lbw by Joe Wadham with the score on 22 after he and James Copeland (34) fell immediately behind the clock.

That let in skipper Lloyd Richardson, who graced the field with a run-a-ball century but even he was unable to maintain the chase as he became one of Luke Poole’s four victims.

The Saints bowlers kept the pressure on and only late resistance from Dominic Hooper (28) enabled Claverham to pass the 200-mark as Bell and Rob Contreras took two wickets apiece.

On Saturday, Taunton St Andrew’s play the first of this season’s derbies when they entertain Taunton Deane at The Wyvern Club, in Mountfields Road (start 12.30).

West of England Premier 2
Taunton 217-8 beat Lansdown 215-9 by 2 wkts

TAUNTON got their league season off to a flying start when they beat Lansdown at Gipsy Lane on Saturday, writes Richard Walsh.

Lansdown batted first and Taunton’s new skipper Ben Phillips got an early breakthrough, removing opener Betenson.

However, at the other end, Smith went on to make 85 before the introduction of Justin Burke put the brakes on and claimed a wicket, thanks to Jack Cooper’s great catch.

The introduction of 15-year-old James Hayes proved to be a good decision as he bowled brilliantly at the death and picked up 3-53.

Overseas player Blake Coburn claimed 3-39 as Lansdown ended on 215-9 from their allotted 50 overs.

Taunton got off to the worst possible start when Tom Abell was caught down the leg side first ball. 

James Clist and Cooper, though, steadied the ship until before the latter was out, caught off the glove for 11.

Clist was joined by Dan Quick and they continued to build the innings before Clist was out for 29. Quick (41) and Coburn (62 not out) then added 72 together.

Will Abell then played some extraordinary shots to end on 28, before there was a clatter of late wickets, and eventually Taunton sneaked home to win by two wickets.

Taunton’s man of the match was Blake Coburn.

Taunton visit Keynsham on Saturday.