Winscombe openers Jory Cureton (77) and Jack Fraser put on 173 for the first wicket against Ilton.

WINSCOMBE were looking to bounce back to form when they hosted Ilton in a bottom of the table clash.

Home skipper Iain Fraser lost the toss and was asked to bat first. New opening pair Jory Cureton and Jack Fraser quickly got into their stride and raced to a 50 partnership after only eight overs.

Fraser brought up his 50 first, shortly followed by his partner. Cureton was first to fall after an opening partnership of 173. His 77 from 110 balls showed a newfound maturity in the opener.

Overseas player Wally Wright joined Fraser but was soon bowled for 13. Rob Bradley was soon out before Matt Lunn rotated the strike brilliantly.

Fraser brought up a well-paced century with a six. The left-hander continued to bat well before being caught for 123, made at nearly a run a ball.

A flurry of wickets then followed, as Lunn, Kennedy, Cameron and Iain Fraser all fell. This mini-collapse left brothers Matt and Guy Coe to guide their side to 293-8.

In reply, Jordan Peters bowled Nat Price with an in-swinger from only the second ball of the Ilton reply. Cureton managed to keep his economy rate down, bowling six overs for 16, while Peters was somewhat more expensive.

Wright was introduced, and looked impressive early in his spell, the pressure he created helping Jack Fraser have Max Davies out caught for 24 with Dan Brunt following suit, caught by Lunn off of the same bowler.

Just when it looked like Ilton may come back into the game, Wright produced a yorker to remove Venn for 17. Lunn and Iain Fraser were brought on to bowl, producing almost immediate results.

Lunn quickly had Piers Willmott bowled and Fraser removed Mason, caught in fine fashion by Cameron Fraser.

Rallied by the catch, Lunn and Fraser then wrapped up the Ilton tail, taking three wickets apiece and leaving the visitors well short on 169 all out.

THE seconds travelled to Spaxton where captain Bawden asked the home team to bat first.

Winscombe made good progress, dismissing the openers for only 10 runs in the first four overs. The incoming Spaxton batters managed to steady the ship and looked to build a good partnership.

This was assisted when Vowles dropped the easiest of catches, however the breakthrough was made and Winscombe continued to take wickets at regular intervals, finally bowling Spaxton out for only 97.

The wickets were shared between Bawden jnr, Boucher and Clough, each claiming three victims

This relatively low target should have been no trouble for Winscombe, but when they lost Coe snr early on, concerns were raised. However, Winscombe’s young guns of Jamie Hutchinson and Jack Hughes saw Winscombe to safety in only 21 overs, with Hutchinson finishing on 41 not out.