WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset

Taunton 1st XI 314-6 beat Ilminster 1st XI 272 by 42 runs

SOMERSET captain Tom Abell blasted a mammoth 161 as Taunton outgunned Ilminster in a high-scoring encounter to leapfrog the visitors in the table.

Hosts Taunton won the toss and batted, but were reduced to 21-3 as Sam Grinter (3-60) removed Charles Clist, Simon Manley and Jack Cooper in a devastating opening spell.

Abell, however, took the game by the scruff of the neck as he blitzed his way to 161 off 132 balls, with 13 4s and three 6s.

He was well supported by Dan Quick (34) and his brother Will Abell (75), as the home side raced up to 298-4.

Both Abells then fell to Craig Rice (2-42 off five), but a quick 13 from Ben Phillips took his side to 314-6 from their 50 overs.

Ilminster openers George Hayward (81) and Charlie Vickery (45) got the reply off to an excellent start, reaching 112 before the first wicket fell.

Sam Spurway weighed in with a fine 76, as the visitors reached 261-5.

But at that point three wickets fell without a run being added, and the innings drained away to 272 all out.

James Hayes took 4-39 off six overs, Max Toohey 3-38 off nine and Blake Coburn 3-50 off 9.3 for Taunton.

Taunton, now fourth in the table, face a derby match at league leaders Taunton St Andrew's this Saturday (12.30pm).

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset

Taunton St Andrew's 282-7 beat Lansdown 211 by 71 runs

TAUNTON St Andrew's continued their march towards the title with a comfortable victory over Lechlade.

The Saints batted first and saw their reliable opening pair James Regan and Eddie Byrom add 78 for the first wicket before the Somerset youngster was bowled for 34.

Michael Leask joined Regan and added 33 for the second wicket, but the visitors then lost three wickets for just five runs as Tom Fogerty (4-43) dismissed Leask (24), Rob Contreras (1) and Regan (48) in quick succession.

The Saints had soon slipped to 130-5 and needed a big contribution, which came from the bat of Kyle Hopper.

His 65, which came from 79 balls and included seven 4s and two 6s, helped rebuild the visitors' innings as Hopper, aided by Josh Horler (24), Deven Bell (33*) and James Hayman (28*), helped his side end their 50 overs on 282-7.

Early wickets for Harry Clements and Leask reduced Lansdown to 48-2 in reply, but Josh Smith and Kofi James put together a promising 107-run partnership to ensure the Saints did not have it all their own way.

Hopper (2-26) continued his fine all-round performance to remove James for 40, and the home side's chances received a fatal blow when Smith was clean bowled by Rob Contreras for 86.

Bell (3-29) ran through the middle order before Leask (3-26) returned to mop up the tail as the Saints bowled their hosts out for 211.

The victors now have a 53-point lead at the summit ahead of Saturday's derby with Taunton.

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset

Shapwick & Polden 260-6 beat Taunton Deane 114 by 146 runs

TAUNTON Deane were put to the sword by Shapwick opener Stephen Tinnion in their heavy defeat on Saturday.

The Deane started well with the ball, as Rob Pryke (2-51) claimed two early wickets to leave the visitors struggling on 35-3.

They couldn't remove Tinnion, however, and he went on to make a superb 145 which was ultimately the difference between the two sides.

Tinnion's knock came from 133 balls and included 14 fours and six 6s, and by the time he was ultimately dismissed by William Hardwick (2-35) he had helped his side to 241-6.

That became 260-6 by the end of their 50 overs, and the Deane suffered an early blow in reply as Robert Woodman fell for 10.

The visitors lost regular wickets thereafter, with Somerset spinner Jack Leach - given the chance to open the batting after earlier collecting 0-31 from his 10 overs - top scoring with 34 as the Deane fell to 114 all out.

Taunton Deane will hope for an improvement on Saturday, when they travel to Ilminster.