WEPL Premier One

Taunton Deane 181 lost to Bath 260-9 by 79 runs

TAUNTON Deane head into the final two weeks of the season in the Premier One relegation zone after a middle-order collapse saw them slip to a 79-run defeat at Bath on Saturday.

Bridgwater’s surprise two-wicket victory over champions Frocester sees them leapfrog Deane into eighth – and with two difficult fixtures remaining in Frocester and Clevedon, Deane now face an uphill battle to beat the drop.

John Rogers struck a fluent half-century, but his dismissal triggered a flurry of wickets as Deane collapsed from 122-2 to 181 all out.

Sam Loud was the next top scorer with 23, but the Deane middle-order failed to tackle the off-spin of Bath’s George Hankins who finished with 4-30.

Earlier, Liam Redrup (4-40) had taken four wickets of his own during the Bath innings, but 82 from Robin Lett and a run-a-ball 72 from Sebastian Benton helped the second-placed side to an imposing total.

Calvin Harrison (2-62) and Luke Whitear (2-45) claimed two wickets apiece and captain Rob Woodman finished with 1-40 from ten overs.

Woodman was the first to fall in the Deane reply, bowled by Bath skipper Lloyd Davies for six – and Sam Underdown edged Adam Kelly behind shortly after to leave the visitors 45-2.

Australian Rogers struck eight fours and one six during his 73-ball knock, but when he was trapped in front by Tom Rouse, the innings collapsed in a heap.

Loud became Hankins’ first victim of the afternoon with the score on 122, trapped lbw - and Thomas (0) was bowled soon after to reduce Deane to 123-5.

Russell Jones (15) hit a four and six during his brief stay before falling to Rouse, who then took a catch to remove Harrison.

Matt Derham was the final wicket to fall in the 43rd over, lbw to David Ford (2-17) to send Deane back into the bottom two, 11 points from safety.