Weston lose their latest league fixture in the last over against Downend.

ROUND six of the WEPL Premier One division was another disappointing day for Weston when they travelled to Downend last Saturday.

On paper, Weston were favourites, but got off to the worst possible start when opener Jackson Davey was caught behind off the third ball of the day. This brought the in-form Gary Morgan to the crease to partner Simon Green.

The small size of Downend’s ground seemed to suit the developing partnership between Green and Morgan as they matched each other run for run and shot for shot, each edging closer to their half centuries. Green (47) was first to fall, as he was trapped leg before by Matt Jackson.

Morgan was then joined by Edd Brown, who happily sat back and watched while Morgan hit out and took the bowlers to task, before a suicidal second run saw Brown heading back to the pavilion, which sparked a flurry of wickets.

Morgan (81) was well on his way to what would have been a well-deserved century when he was clean bowled by Phil Jackson. Shabil Ahmed and Andy Fear were unable to hang around, leaving it to Sean Stringer (36) and Tom Main (17 not out) to push towards a competitive total of 248-9 off 50 overs.

Adam Davies and Stringer then put pressure on the Downend batsmen, with Davies accounting for both openers inside 10 overs. However, this only meant that Downend’s experienced captain Mike Ponter was joined by the big-hitting Christian Purchase (61) who began to take the game away from Weston.

A 90-run partnership was finally ended when Purchase miscued one into the hands of keeper Davey. Another three quick wickets turned the game back in Weston’s favour until Matt Jackson steadied the ship and supported Ponter to his half century.

When Ponter fell with Downend still needing 80 to win with only two wickets in hand, it seemed as though the game was Weston’s for the taking. However, they hadn’t bet on Bobby Naeem and Phil Jackson hitting out, and meant that the eighth wicket partnership edged closer to victory.

With 30 needed off the last three overs, the game could have gone either way, but Jackson finished off proceedings with consecutive sixes back over the bowlers head, and recorded an unlikely victory with four balls to spare.

The Intouch CRM man of the match was Gary Morgan.