WEPL Somerset Division
Staplegrove 140-6 beat North Petherton 139 by 4 wkts

AN outstanding spell of bowling from Matt Dimond brought Staplegrove a fine home win over rivals North Petherton on Saturday.

Electing to bat first, Pethy struggled to dominate the home attack, with Ryan Cleverly and Ian Bishop steaming in under a hot sun.

But it was the introduction of Dimond which changed the game as he claimed the wickets of the dangerous Brad Porteus (14) and skipper Mike Burns for a fine 51.

The mid-to lower-order were kept in check as Bishop (2-30) and Thomas Pantling (2-20) were rewarded.

When Dimond claimed the wicket of Scott Briffett, North Petherton had slumped to 139 all out after just 34 overs.

Dimond ended with figures of 5-23 off 9.2 overs.

Staplegrove’s reply began badly as the top order were hit by fine opening spells from Porteus (3-27) and Briffett (2-37).

They were on the brink of defeat when, at 20-5, Joe Pantling was joined by skipper Ian Bishop.

Together, they took the attack to Pethy, with Bishop, in particular, taking advantage of anything off length.

Pantling was first to go for a fine 36, but Bishop carried on the attack, backed by Aaron Nurcombe.

In quick time, Staplegrove got home in just 26.3 overs with Bishop unbeaten on 64, including nine 4s and two 6s.

On Saturday, Staplegrove travel to in-form Wembdon (1pm start).

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WEPL Somerset Division
Chard 250-6 beat Wellington 233 by 17 runs

A SPARKLING century from Chard’s Matthew Micale was the difference between the sides at the Playing Field on Saturday.

Batting first, Chard suffered an early blow as Luke Desave bowled Nathan Johnson without a run on the board.

This brought in Micale, who was joined by Jonathan Scott with the score on 81-3.

Together, they took the score on to 214 before Micale fell to Ian Hewson for a fine 109 which included 14 4s.

Scott was last out for 77 as Chard closed on 250-6 off their 50 overs.

Hewson bowled well to take 4-56 off nine overs but Neil Hendy was the pick of the attack, taking 1-30 off ten.

Wellington’s reply was controlled, with each of the top six making useful contributions.

Kayden Hine (30) and Robin Davies (49) took the total to 96-2 and Thom Trott added 43 but Chard’s bowlers chipped away and Wellington were still 17 short when their last wicket fell.

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WEPL Somerset Division
Wembdon 273-6 beat Minehead 115 by 158 runs

MINEHEAD suffered yet more misery on Saturday as they were defeated by 158 runs at home to Wembdon.

For the first time this season, they were asked to bowl first and Ellis Taylor (1-38) got his team off to a flying start when he had opener Liam Pigden caught at gully for two.

Harry Tudball (1-43) then picked up the wicket of Jack Lowe (8) to leave the visitors at 42-2.

Other opener Dan Bingham, however, stood firm, and started to build a healthy partnership with skipper Jonathan Brockwell as Ian Buchanan (0-44) and Dan Bowditch (1-57) were introduced to the attack.

The two batsmen had taken their team past 100 and had exactly a century partnership when Bowditch had Brockwell spectacularly caught at slip by Buchanan for 48.

The Wembdon middle order picked up the baton as Bingham set about applying the accelerator before being cruelly run out for a well made 88.

Brendan Pope (30) and Josh Henry (23), although struggling to find the boundary late on due to some tight bowling from Jay Darrell (1-64), pushed the total on to 273-6 from their allotted overs.

The Minehead reply never gained momentum as the usually reliable skipper, Andrew Stevens, was first out for just four and was closely followed by Angus Marsh (6) and Bowditch (1) as Wembdon bowlers Pope (4-25) and Brockwell (1-28) offered nothing loose with the new ball.

Kiwi Liam Muggeridge looked in top form, striking four boundaries, including a sumptuous on-drive, before being clean bowled for 19 and Freddie Wilson could only muster a run before being caught behind off Pope.

Braden Taylor (15) and Gregg Howard (26) offered some resistance but, with their departure, the Minehead innings came to an abrupt end on just 115, which was 158 runs short of the target.

Minehead, still languishing in last place, host fellow strugglers Wellington on Saturday (1pm start) in a must-win game for both sides.