Weston comprehensively defeated Chard by 10 wickets with a superb all-round team performance.

A SUPERB all-round team performance guided Weston to a 10-wicket victory at home to ninth placed Chard.

With Weston still not guaranteed league safety, a win was crucial and the 21 points obtained have pushed the Seasiders further to safety in fifth position, 37 points clear of Chard, who occupy ninth place and 53 above bottom side Shapwick & Polden.

Chard won the toss and elected to bat and Sean Stringer and Charl Willoughby continued their excellent form, with Stringer removing Retter and Hayes, both caught behind by John Davidson.

Mawdsley and Wright rebuilt, taking Chard beyond 50 before Andrew Fear removed Wright (21) after he edged to the keeper. Wells-Burr joined Mawdsley and he played aggressively hitting Goodhew for six shortly before rain interrupted play with the score on 87-3.

At the restart, Weston turned back to Willoughby, who struck three times quickly removing Wells-Burr (25) and Mawdsley for a well played 37. Both wickets were caught by John Davidson with the keeper contributing by catching the top five batsmen.

Just before rain returned, Willoughby also accounted for Scott without scoring, reducing Chard to 98-6.

A half-hour break meant the innings was reduced to 44 overs, but Weston struck again after the restart with Willoughby (9-2-24-4) finding Wighton’s edge and Shabel Ahmed taking a tumbling catch at second slip.

Ash Allen (5-1-10-1) replaced Willoughby and he bowled with excellent discipline and was rewarded when Dalwood edged to Davidson for his sixth catch of the innings.

Sean Stringer (9-1-28-3) claimed the ninth wicket and Chris Davidson picked up the final wicket, to set the home side a potentially tricky 139-run chase.

The tone was set early on as 14 came from Wighton’s first over, King finding two boundaries in the process as Weston raced to 50 in just the seventh over.

The spin of Dalwood (5-0-30-0) and Wright (6-0-28-0) proved tricky at times and the batsman had to work hard to protect their wicket.

King passed his half-century at a run-a-ball which was followed shortly after by the 100 partnership. Fear continued to accumulate with some excellent boundaries whipped through mid-wicket and driven through the covers.

The opening pair were able to see Weston to victory inside of 24 overs with Fear hitting the winning runs with another cover drive. Fear finished on 37 not out, but it was Forte Financial man of the match King, who stole the show with 93 not out, including 13 fours and three sixes. The Australian’s run of form has seen scores of 72, 72, 47 and 93 in a period where Weston have won three from four.

This was Weston’s best fielding display of the season which backed up some excellent bowling by Willoughby, Stringer, Fear and Allen, supported brilliantly by wicket-keeper John Davidson with six catches and a faultless display.

Andrew Fear took his batting average beyond 50 in another assured display by the ageless all-rounder.

On Saturday, Weston travel to league leaders Potterne.