ON a warm Saturday afternoon, the Wembdon 1st XI travelled to Yeovil.

Yeovil won the toss and elected to bat first. Wembdon would have done the same given the choice.

The pitch was firm but had an inconsistent covering of grass. The pitch would continue to impact the game throughout both innings.

With the skipper absent, Mike Watts was drafted in from the 2nd XI and he took the new ball along with Brendan Pope.

Pope kicked the innings off with a maiden whilst aggressive opener Chacko as expected went hard at the ball for Yeovil. 

Wembdon had to wait until the 4th over when a good catch from stand-in captain Jack Lowe removed Chacko off the bowling of Watts.

In the very next over, a short ball from Pope caught the glove of Ford with the chance taken by Bingham at 1st slip.

Wickets continued to fall then at regular intervals with Yeovil finding themselves 27 for 5.

Watts had claimed his 2nd caught by Anning whilst Pope made good use of the surface with several deliveries barely bouncing above the ankle to clean bowl the Yeovil middle order.

Watts' opening spell returned 2 for 22 off 6 overs and was then replaced by Sri Lankan pro Lohan De Zoysa.

Pope continued and would bowl his allotted 10 overs straight through having a devastating impact in the process. Only Hanrahan at 5 offered any resistance as he faced 50 balls for his 19 runs; The only Yeovil player to reach double figures.

Pope 10 overs conceded 23 runs and claimed an impressive 6 wickets.  He was replaced by Everett and Pope couldn't keep out the action as he took the catch that removed Hanrahan. 

It left Yeovil 60 for 9 and it wasn't long before De Zoysa wrapped up the innings with a smart stumping from Pigden.

Yeovil all out for 61 in the 24th over.

A quick turn around saw Everett and Anning open the innings for Wembdon.

Knowing how the wicket had played it was a cautious approach and the opening stand of 20 got Wembdon off to a solid start. 

It was in the 9th over that Yeovil got the breakthrough as Fuller (the pick of the Yeovil bowlers) claimed 2 wickets in the same over.

This brought De Zoysa to the crease who partnered Anning, they added a further 12 runs in 4 overs before Anning was caught behind for a patient 11.

Lowe and De Zoysa added 13 for the 4th wicket taking Wembdon to 47. Yeovil stuck with Fuller and Brighton but had gifted Wembdon 18 extras!

The game had a final twist, Wembdon on 47 Lowe was caught at slip, De Zoysa was caught by the keeper and Trunks was trapped LBW.

Wembdon were on the ropes at 47 for 6 having been in a comfortable position they still required 15 for victory.

At this point in proceedings both opening bowlers had delivered their allotted 10 overs, Brighton with 2 for 31 and Fuller 4 for 15.

The change saw Chesterman deliver his spin and he removed Pigden but not before he and Bingham added 8 to reach 55 for 7. 

Seven more needed and player of the match Brendan Pope strode to the crease.  He capitalised on a full toss from new bowler Cawley striking a rare boundary.  

Two more required for victory Pope made the best of the gap on the leg side as he struck consecutive boundaries to win the game for Wembdon and round off a superb day for Pope.  

A tense finish in adverse conditions but Wembdon kept their unbeaten start to the season. Next Saturday, Wembdon 1st XI will be back at The Green as they host Chard.