Uphill Castle beat close neighbours Winscombe by seven wickets.

UPHILL Castle got their home league campaign underway against local rivals Winscombe in the Somerset Division of the WEPL.

The visitors won the toss and decided to bat, hoping to get best use of the wicket.

Mike Hudson (1-17) and George Cox bowled with excellent discipline to thwart the Winscombe batsman early on. Hudson was particularly effective, and got his rewards when opener Dan Kennedy was caught at first slip by Rob Tasker.

The visitors managed to build an excellent platform as Jory Cureton (60) looked to attack. On the stroke of drinks, Ed Bliss got the breakthrough when he bowled Cureton. This brought Zain Patel to the crease, who attacked strongly before Cox (2-51) trapped him lbw for 47.

Winscombe posted a commanding 233-6, with young Jack Fraser finishing on a fine 70 not out. Watts and Bliss picked up a wicket each, Cox two, but Hudson’s 10 overs for just 17 runs proved to be the pick of the bowlers. Tom Oultram was outstanding in the field.

Castle’s reply got off to the perfect start as the first 10 overs saw them post 60 without loss led by keeper batsman Seb Winn (28). Andre Belcher (23) showed promising signs of form as he grafted well. After the openers departed, Rob Tasker (29) and skipper Jon Lambert took the score past a 100 and had the home side well placed for the run chase.

Tasker was lbw off the bowling of Patel (1-36) just prior to drinks. Bliss (63 not out) joined Lambert (69 not out) and the pair put on a century partnership and confidently saw Castle home with six overs to spare.

Clough bowled well for Winscombe, returning 2-33 from his 10 overs.

WINSCOMBE

J Cureton b Bliss 60

D Kennedy c Tasker b Hudson 5

J Fraser not out 70

Z Patel lbw Cox 47

J Munden run out 9

J Reeves c&b Watts 15

B Goodrun c Tasker b Cox 1

I Fraser not out 1

Extras 25

Total (6 wkts) 233

Bowling: M Hudson 10-3-17-1; G Cox 10-0-51-2; M Patch 5-0-35-0; L Bliss 9-0-43-1; M Bail 10-1-50-0; H Watts 6-0-25-1.

UPHILL CASTLE

S Winn c Durans-Paul b Clough 28

A Belcher lbw Clough 23

R Tasker lbw Patel 29

J Lambert not out 69

E Bliss not out 63

Extras25

Total (3 wkts) 237

Bowling: C Clough 10-1-33-2; J Cureton 7.1-0-52-0; J Peters 6-0-42-0; Z Patel 10-4-36-1; J Fraser 4-0-27-0; I Fraser 4-0-22-0; B Goodrun 3-0-21-0.

Castle 2nd X1 were on the wrong end of a seven wicket defeat when they travelled to Huntspill.

Having been asked to bat, Uphill posted the respectable score of 192-7 from their 45 overs. Uphill were given a great start by Hodder (24) and Doyle (38) putting on 57 for the first wicket. Ian Tasker (45) was the main stay of the Uphill innings with valuable contributions from Dave Bickell (17), Jake Llewellyn (18) and Rob Latham (12 not out).

The Uphill bowlers were put to the sword as Huntspill opening bat Eley, who smashed 106 from 63 balls, being finally bowled by Holt in the 19th over. The damage was done as Dibble (34 not out) and Counsell (29 not out) saw Huntspill home in the 27th over.

Mention must be made of an excellent effort with the ball by Kerion Ward, who bowled with great control in difficult circumstances.

Uphill Cavaliers lost a second successive match on the road to Purnells 2nd XI by six wickets.

They lost both openers early before Rob Owen (16) and Chris Oultram (23) took the score to 44-3. A further three quick wickets saw Uphill slide to 57-6. Evergreen veteran Bob Hurford and 16-year-old George Chapman turned things round with a stand of 56, Chapman making a plucky 13 including a fine leg side six.

Last man Hallam Bickell helped Hurford to steer Uphill to an unlikely 142-9 with an unbeaten last wicket stand of 21, Hurford finishing up with an excellent (66 not out), containing a six and nine fours.

The home side put on 50 for the first wicket before George Chapman engineered a wicket with a quality catch at cover by newcomer Hurford picked up three late wickets, two of them with the scores level.

Credit again went to the young Castle bowlers, Bickell bowled seven tight overs for 27, George Chapman took 1-30 from his seven overs of leg spin, with James Holt bowling three late overs for only 10. Tony Moore was unlucky not to take a a wicket in his five overs for 24.

Beachlands Hotel man of the match was Bob Hurford.