WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Taunton St Andrew’s 214-8 beat Lansdown 210-8 by 2 wkts

LEADERS Taunton St Andrew’s were saved by their late order batsmen as they came home with two wickets to spare at The Wyvern Club on Saturday.

Choosing to bat first, Lansdown set off at a pace as Jordan Smith (54) and Josh Smith (27) put 70 on the board for the first wicket.

After Josh Smith was trapped lbw by Lloyd Alley, quick wickets fell but the middle order rescued the innings to take it along to 187-6.

The introduction of Rob Contreras controlled the late chase for runs, and Lansdown had to settle for 210-8 as the overs ran out.

Contreras ended with 3-34 off 10, while there were two wickets for Deven Bell.

The start of the Saints reply was something of a disaster as they staggered to 9-3, with in-form openers James Regan (6) and Ed Byrom (1) falling cheaply.

Alley (21) steadied things and Contreras (35) and Kyle Hopper took the score from a shaky 54-5 to 117-6.

Hopper provided the backbone of the innings but, at 157-8, he fell for a fine 53 with the Saints still 58 runs short.

However, Bell (26no) and a belligerent Harry Clements (41no) at No 10 edged their side to a fine victory, crossing the line with 11 balls remaining.

Matt Thomas was the pick of the visitors’ bowlers with 2-30 off ten, and Harry Veal claimed three scalps.

After the scare, the Saints picked up 19 useful points to go 14 points clear at the top.

On Saturday, the Saints make the short trip to Taunton Vale to play Taunton (12.30pm start).

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WEPL Premier 2
Bristol/Somerset Ilminster 196 beat Taunton 159 by 37 runs

TAUNTON slipped back in the promotion chase, losing by 37 runs to an improving Ilminster.

The Ilminster innings featured a superb bowling display from Taunton’s Blake Coburn, whose spell was full of control and penetration, taking 5-19 off his 10 overs.

Justin Burke took 3-35 off 10 as Ilminster were dismissed for what seemed a gettable 196.

Jonny Warry survived Coburn’s wiles to end on an unbeaten 41.

Charlie Vickery added 38 and Louis Kraucamp 27 - extras, at 35, provided Ilminster's third highest score.

Taunton were immediately in trouble as Tom Abell became the victim of Harry Montacute with just four to his name.

Hugh Kelly (42) and Dan Quick (24) made slow progress to restore stability but, when they went, wickets tumbled and Taunton fell behind the clock.

Will Abell came in to hit 46 off 52 balls but the late order were fighting an uphill battle and, despite an unbeaten 16 from Josh Kelly, Taunton finished 37 runs adrift.

Miserly Ilminster only gave away six extras as James Thompson took 3-28 off 10 and Charlie Vickery 2-22 off his 10 to stifle the Taunton batting line-up.

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WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Shapwick & Polden 288-7 beat Taunton Deane 186 by 102 runs

TAUNTON Deane slumped to a big defeat on Saturday as they continued their slide towards the danger zone.

The defeat was based around a big opening partnership by Shapwick’s Steve Tinnion (79) and Sam Edmunds (83), who put on 160 for the first wicket.

Tinnion and Edmunds hit 21 4s between them as the Deane’s Will Hardwick and Rob Pryke toiled without success in the searing heat.

After the openers’ dismissal, the Deane attack had some success as Shapwick tried to increase the run rate.

Calvin Harrison claimed the wicket of Tinnion then went on to record figures of 4-35 off his 10 overs.

For the rest, it was a tough day at the office as Shapwick closed on 288-7 off their 50 overs.

The Deane needed a decent start and openers Robert Woodman and Henry Mellor (12) had 49 on the board before Mellor was run out.

Woodman went on to make 45 out of the first 63, hitting nine 4s but, after he went, wickets fell at regular intervals as the Deane slipped to 95-5.

At 117, Harry Smith was bowled for a promising 26 and, although the middle order got into double figures, no-one was able to take the game by the scruff of the neck in the face of a challenging total.

Pryke added a fine, unbeaten 34 late on but it was more in a quest for extra batting points than the victory.

As it was, the Deane were still over 100 runs short when the last wicket fell with eight overs remaining.

Steve Coppell, with 3-40 off 10, was the main wicket-taker for Shapwick, while Harry Woolway and Archie Dunning took two apiece.

Deane host Ilminster this Saturday (12.30pm start).