There was to be no nervous waiting for other results and no speculation about how many would be coming down from WEPL 1.

Keynsham’s comprehensive win ensured that Taunton Deane will be playing their cricket next season in unfamiliar grounds.

There was certainly some life in the pitch as Keynsham chose to bat. Ed Mellor and Jim Brehaut made batting a risky business. Keynsham chose the path of aggression which pushed up the run rate but left them on 61-5 in the 12th over. 

At this point the tempo of the game changed. Keynsham’s Jake Carstens and James Burston looked in no trouble as they steered their side past 200. When Suranga Lakmal replaced Burston, the pace increased again with Lakmal scoring his 40 from just 19 balls. Carstens kept his foot on the accelerator, and he left the field unbeaten on 132 and the Deane to chase 300.

Jim Brehaut was the pick of the bowlers with three top order wickets and that of the explosive Lakmal.

The Deane’s initial response did not provide the platform the innings needed. However, the middle order of Tenny Harlow (27), Ali Hamid (51) and Ben Chaffey (46) took the score from 26 for three  to 158 for five before the chaos of 15 balls saw five wickets fall and the Deane dismissed for 165.

It has been an extraordinary season after losing eight of last season’s squad and building a largely new and very young side from within the club.

After the succession of losses at the start of the season, the team did achieve five victories including four on the bounce. Confidence was building based on some good, strong team performances. However, this final game revealed that the team is still work in progress.

Next Saturday will see a very different type of game as The Somerset Stragglers and a Deane XI will play their annual fixture at the Convent Field in fond and grateful memory of Geoff Turner, known to many in Taunton as Mr Christmas.

We will continue to cherish the memory of a man of energy, optimism and commitment who just loved sport.