Uphill Castle’s batting let them down again as they lost to Ilton by 69 runs.

UPHILL’S batting let them down again as they lost to Ilton by 69 runs.

Ilton elected to bat and raced away to 102 in the 23rd over. The introduction of Rob Tasker and Keiron Ward put a brake on proceedings with the combined 20 overs of the pair only going for 50 runs and Tasker (5-25) picking up a five wicket hall.

Marcus Bail came back for his second spell and picked up four wickets, and despite dropping a number of catches managed to dismiss Ilton for 199.

Uphill’s innings got off to a dreadful start, losing Williams to the third ball, proceedings went from bad to worse as wickets tumbled as a lack of application left Uphill on 30-6.

Things were turned around by Alex Winn and George Cox as the pair put on 70 for the seventh wicket. The loss of Cox for 27 signalled the end, despite a brief flurry from Bail as Uphill were all out in the 37th over for 130.

Winn played an excellent innings being left stranded on 50 not out and was the Beachland’s Hotel man of the match.

ILTON

N Price b Tasker 71

M Davies c Cox b Tasker 33

D Price c&b Tasker 10

P Oliver c Winn b Bliss 35

J Williams c Winn b Tasker 4

D Brunt c&b Tasker 0

M Ahmad st Dibben b Bail 9

S Perry b Bail 5

S Lonton c Bliss b Bail 1

A Mason b Bail 20

D Anderson not out 0

Extras 11

Total 199

Bowling: G Cox 5-0-29-0; A Winn 5-1-20-0; L Bliss 10-1-34-1; M Bail 10-0-56-4; K Ward 10-035-0; R Tasker 10-0-25-5.

UPHILL CASTLE

G Williams b Mason 0

A Belcher b Oliver 10

R Tasker b Williams 6

L Bliss b Williams 1

A Winn not out 50

T Oultram lbw Williams 0

D Bickell b Williams 1

G Cox b Mason 27

R Dibben b Mason 0

M Bail c&b Williams 13

K Ward b Price 1

Extras 21

Total 130

Castle 2nds travelled to Horrington and came up against a good young side who have had some recent wins.

Castle chose to field and there was another tight opening spell from James Holt, who bowled six overs for 29 runs. The introduction of evergreen Mark Patch brought Castle three quick wickets, and at 74-3 Castle were in the driving seat.

However Wood and Cox came together for Horrington and put on a superb stand of 202, finishing the innings with the score at 276-3.

The total always looked too much for the Castle batsmen, only Hodder with 24 at the top of the order made Horrington work. Eventually Castle reached a score of 85-8 and bowlers George Chapman and Andy Leech produced an outstanding partnership of 85 runs to make the score acceptable.

Both players were superb, mixing aggression and solid defence, sharing a record stand. Castle were eventually dismissed for 172, losing by 104 runs, but there were many positives to be taken.

Beachlands Hotel men of the match were George Chapman and Andy Leech.

The third XI travelled to Glastonbury and found the home side in fine form. Batting first, Glastonbury opener Crees went on to smash 148, backed up by 64 from Gooch as they ended on 307-4.

Wicket-takers for Uphill were Hallam Bickell, Sam Matthews and Jamie Stevens.

In reply, Uphill lost Rob Latham second ball. Stevens (37) and Adam Brown (37 not out) batted well as Uphill finished on 157 all out.

Special mention to young Harry Oultram, who made 17 against Glastonbury’s opening bowlers.