CRICKET: Narrow defeat for Minehead in Under-13s cup (From Somerset County Gazette)

CRICKET: Narrow defeat for Minehead in Under-13s cup

2:45pm Sunday 10th June 2012 in Local Cricket

Minehead Under-13s lost to Wembdon by six runs in the quarter-finals of the Somerset cup.

In reply to 115-2 they finished just short on 109-4.

Their run chase started badly when Ben Howe was out in the second over and vice captain James Gregory went first ball with his new bat to leave the score 7-2.

But Archie Marsh and skipper Jordan Baker set about rebuilding the innings with an excellent stand of 52 in nine overs.

Archie Marsh was then bowled for 25 and shortly afterwards Joe Ferris went cheaply, leaving Minehead on 59-4.

Elliott Binding, promoted to No6, joined Baker and they kept up the rate until Baker had to retire at 35, hitting his last ball for six over mid-wicket to large cheers from the crowd.

Will Hawker then joined Binding and between them they kept the rate to eight an over with Hawker scoring a quick-fire 20 including four superb boundaries to leave 30 required off the last four overs.

At that point Wembdon’s Max Sellick returned to the attack and pegged back the runs until the last over saw 13 required to win with Hawker on strike.

Unfortunately for Minehead they could manage only a boundary and a couple of singles to fall six runs short after a brave run chase.

After Baker had put Wembdon into bat opening bowler Jamie Savage made early inroads with two quick wickets.

But most of the other bowlers struggled in the strong wind while Minehead’s fielding was below its usual standards.