Belvedere out on top in local derby against Cheddar,

BELVEDERE defeated Cheddar in a thrilling local derby, running out eventual winners by 16 runs.

Belvedere batted first and lost Chadwick early as he edged to the keeper. Lodge and Gadd battled hard and took the score to 73, before Gadd (16) was bowled. Lodge (38) followed soon after.

Despite losing some cheap wickets, Crockett (21), Watts (18) and Ashfield (23) took the score to 156-7 after 45 overs.

In reply, Cheddar found it just as difficult and were reduced to 26-2. Both bowled fine 12 over spells to give Belvedere a chance of victory. A fine partnership between Mehlig and Willis moved Cheddar into a good position, but with the score on 100, CJ Neate (1-20) bowled Mehlig. Watts dismissed Willis, superbly caught at mid-on by Ashfield for a fine 41. Watts (2-13) and Taylor (2-27) cleaned up the tail to leave Belvedere winners by 16 runs.

In an excellent all-round team performance, the WsM Auto Electricals man of the match went to Jon Lodge.

Belvedere

N Chadwick c Mehlig b Crummy 2

J Lodge st Mehlig b Kent 38

J Gadd b Kent 16

K Crockett c Childs b Kent 21

J Jones c Loughlin b Childs 5

B Ashfield not out 23

R Watts c Childs b Willis 18

D Taylor b Loughlin 0

M Broadhead not out 7

Extras 26

Total (7 wkts) 156

Cheddar

T Humberscombe b Broadhead 12

F Travis lbw Broadhead 4

M Sims c Lodge b Gadd 16

R French c S Neate b Gadd 11

M Loughlin c S Neate b Broadhead 7

D Mehlig b C Neate 10

A Willis c Ashfield b Watts 41

A Grayson b Watts 15

A Crummy c Jones b Taylor 0

T Childs not out 5

S Kent c Jones b Taylor 0

Extras 19

Total 140

Bowling: M Broadhead 12-3-32-3; J Gadd 12-2-41-2; C Neate 4-0-20-1; D Taylor 9.5-0-27-2; R Watts 5-1-13-2.