WEPL Somerset Division
Minehead 1st XI 192-9 beat North Perrott 1st XI 128 all out by 64 runs

MINEHEAD wrapped up the first half of the season with a much-needed away win over previously unbeaten North Perrott on Saturday.

The visitors – asked to bat after losing another toss – lost both openers early, and when Braden Taylor (3) fell they found themselves in a vulnerable position at 43-3.

Liam Muggeridge and the in-form Alastair Harrison steadied the ship in the middle overs, and set about composing a sizeable total.

Their partnership was cut short, however, when Harrison prodded forward to gift an easy catch to Jamie England at short leg for 23.

Muggeridge, though, was now into his stride and punishing some loose bowling from the Perrott spinners.

He dominated a partnership of 67 with Dan Bowditch, with Bowditch getting to 10 before top edging a sweep when looking to accelerate the scoring.

Muggeridge was next to depart, lofting a straight drive off Alex Eckland (4-51) only to find the long on fielder, dismissed for a fine 76 that included 13 fours.

Freddie Wilson (3) met his demise the very next ball, as he skewed a drive to backward point, and Charlie Tudball (11) narrowly avoided being bowled with the hat-trick ball, before he and Jay Darrell (18no) gave their side a defendable 192-9 from their allotted overs.

In reply, the hosts’ openers Eckland and George Retter struggled against the new ball pairing of Darrell (3-19) and Harry Tudball (1-21), and it wasn’t long before Darrell provided the breakthrough – Eckland (2) caught behind by keeper Andrew Stevens.

This brought Kiwi Troy Johnson to the crease, but Darrell produced another excellent delivery to induce a thick edge, Harrison taking a sharp catch to see the back of the dangerman for four.

Perrott captain Jake Symes didn’t fare any better, as he faced 20 balls without scoring before a leading edge saw him caught at mid on, before Tudball had Retter lbw for a watchful 10 at 24-4.

Nick Taylor and Craig Jones (13) offered some resistance before the latter was bowled by Bowditch (1-15).

Taylor found some useful boundaries but then miscued a full toss off Ian Buchanan (3-14) on 45.

Buchanan and Muggeridge (2-17) finished the job, to dismiss the hosts for 128 in 37.2 overs.

Minehead gained a valuable 19 points from the fixture, and travel to fellow strugglers Staplegrove this coming Saturday, with a win taking them above their hosts.

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WEPL Somerset Division
Temple Cloud 1st XI 184-7 beat Staplegrove 1st XI 183 by 3 wkts

STAPLEGROVE failed to fully recover from a shaky start as they were beaten at home by second-from-bottom Temple Cloud on Saturday.

Electing to bat first, Thom and Jake Pantling reached 23 before Jake was bowled by Chris Diaper for seven.

The top order limped on to 50-4 with Thom Pantling out for 19 before Brendan Craggs and Ian Bishop fought back.

Bishop hit 28 and Craggs 32, with Aaron Nurcombe (11) and Harry Graydon (37) adding useful runs.

Jack Rich provided a sting in the tail with the only six of the innings in his 18, as the Grove finished on 183.

Simon Mahoney took 4-39 for Temple Cloud.

Bishop trapped Cloud’s Courtney Forrest lbw for 10 early on, but Simon Curtis and Stefan McHale put on 78 and take the score on to 96-1.

McHale (33) fell to Thom Pantling and Curtis (48) to Bishop, only for skipper Kevin Curtis to make 45 as Cloud passed their target with three wickets left.

Bishop took 4-20 off 10 overs for Grove.

On Saturday, Staplegrove welcome fellow strugglers Minehead (12.30pm start).

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WEPL Somerset Division
Wembdon 1st XI 239-8 beat Wellington 1st XI 186 by 53 runs

WELLINGTON approach the midway point of the season in sixth place after a 53-run defeat to in-form Wembdon.

Visitors Wembdon chose to bat first, but Will Derrick dismissed Dan Bingham and Sam Puddy cheaply, and when Luke Desave ran out Jae Stone, they were 13-3.

Skipper Jon Brockwell and Liam Pigden turned the tide, until Ian Hewson bowled Pigden for 40 and Arron Campbell (2-37 off 10 overs) had Brockwell caught by Will Derrick for 49.

With Wembdon at 130-6, Brendan Pope (54) and Josh Henry (43) put together a match-winning partnership for the seventh wicket.

They were both dismissed by Neil Hendy, but the lower order got Wembdon to 239.

Wellington came out confidently but Brockwell dismissed both openers to hamper the hosts early on.

Thom Trott and Ben Evett began to rebuild but a mix-up saw Evett run out, and Trott was adjudged lbw in the next over to leave Wellington 82-5.

Desave and Aks Latifi crafted a handy sixth-wicket partnership and the game looked in the balance, but Latifi went for 15 and Hendy two.

Desave reached his second 50 of the season but Puddy bowled him, and Brendan Pope finished the hosts off.

Wellington travel to league leaders Weston-super-Mare on Saturday (1pm).