WEPL Somerset Division
North Perrott 190-3 (182 after adjustment) beat Wellington 127 by 55 runs

A DROPPED catch when North Perrott’s overseas player Troy Johnson was on 11 proved to be absolutely crucial as he kicked on to make a feisty 130 not out as this rain-ravaged game was taken to its conclusion, writes David Derrick.

That any play was possible after Friday’s deluge was thanks to the hard work of the ground staff - a great effort.

A start was made after 2pm and Wellington asked North Perrott to bat first.

Ian Hewson removed George Retter with the score on five and this saw a passage of play continue until another rain break with Perrott closing in on having faced 20 of their 40 overs and they did not have 50 on the board - in this time, Johnson had been dropped.

Hewson, along with Jake Nichol, Will Derrick, Neil Hendy and Jack Beal had bowled their seam variety well and with control and had the measure of the visitors, who had won their opening two games of 2017.

The game had become a 39 overs per side affair by now and Perrott skipper Gordon Whorlow had batted in his usual solid manner to make 20 before he hit one straight to Will Derrick at cover off the bowling of Jack Beal.

With another Derrick catch giving Jake Nichol reward, the game was balanced but it saw Johnson crack 130no as he and Taylor put their foot down and accelerated to such an extent they had made it to 190-3 in 37.1 overs when another rain break forced tea to be taken.

As a result, Wellington needed 183 to win in 35 overs.

After losing a wicket early, Kayden Hine and skipper Alex Sparks added 55 to overcome that initial setback, but the Wellington skipper suffered a hamstring injury and this saw him need the services of a runner - he battled hard until he was lbw for 27.

Hine played a second good knock in two days as he made 26 but, from then, Whorlow and Johnson showed their bowling traits as Wellington suffered a middle order collapse with these slower bowlers along with Szczepanski (3-27) spinning their side to an 18-point haul.

Neil Hendy with 20 and last wicket pair Rob Moysey with 15no and Jake Nichol with 14 played with defiance, but the game was up for Wellington with one ball to spare when Nichol was bowled by Retter and the visitors had a 55-run win to go back home with.

Weston-super-Mare 113-6 beat Staplegrove 112-8 by four wickets

GROVE travelled to Division leaders Weston and narrowly lost a rain-hit match reduced to 25 overs apiece.

Batting first, the Grove lost Richard Rowe early but Tom Pantling (24) and Jo Pantling (13) took the score on to 35.

Further wickets fell against an experienced attack including Charl Willoughby but skipper Ian Bishop hit a swashbuckling 42 which included four 6s.

Aaron Nurcombe added a useful unbeaten 18 but the closing score of 112-8 was not the biggest of challenges for in-form Weston.

Bishop struck early and then was the architect of two run-outs as Weston slipped to 49-3 with overs running out.

Ashley Allen (29) and Rob Turner (31no) steadied the ship and although

Ian Masters took two wickets with the score on 111, Weston crawled over the line with five balls remaining.

Bishop’s five overs yielded just five runs (three maidens) and one wicket, while Masters took 2-22 in his five.

On Saturday, Wellington travel to Bridgwater 2nds, while Staplegrove entertain Chard.