Mixed news for Weston teams

Weston Cricket Club's 2nd XI travelled to Taunton St Andrew's for their latest league tie.

The earlier home fixture in June fell victim to the rain and Saints were keen to reverse last season's result when they lost a closely contested match by two wickets with two balls to spare.

Weston won the toss and chose to bat, a decision which looked questionable after opener Jason Lane was caught behind by wicketkeeper Trundley off the first ball he faced.

This brought Weston's wicketkeeper-batsman Mitch Smit to the crease who produced his best batting display of the season. Smit drove, cut and pulled the bowlers all around the ground, scoring 65 runs off a mere 76 deliveries with 13 boundaries. When he was dismissed, Weston were on 126 for 4, and could only manage another 42 runs before their innings closed on 168.

In reply, Luke Parfitt and Tom Main opened the bowling for Weston and made the most of the conditions which allowed them to swing the ball. Both bowled with control and aggression and, after each had completed 11 overs, Saints had lost their top six wickets for only 77 runs, with only three batsmen struggling into double figures.

Weston's spin twins, Shabil Ahmed and Ashley Allen, polished off the tail and all the bowlers took at least one wicket. Saints were dismissed halfway through the 32nd over for only 108 runs, which meant that Weston recorded a win by 60 runs and enjoyed their second successive victory at the Wyvern ground.

For his sparkling innings and top score of 65, the Brunel Ford man of the match was Mitch Smit.

* Weston 3rds' promotion hopes were finally extinguished with a seven-wicket defeat away at Shoscombe, despite a 135-run opening partnership between Mark Bissex and Pete Lomax.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Bissex (90) and Lomax (64) batted with ease despite the best efforts of Peter Clarke whose eight overs cost just 19. Further lusty blows from Will Whitell (23) continued the flow of runs but, as Bissex tired and with the bowling never faltering, the innings petered out, leaving The Falcons on 202-4 from their 40 overs, probably 20 short of par on a docile pitch.

In reply, Shoscombe got off to a good start as Scott Yorke (37) and Tom Ballinger kept the board ticking over with some excellent running between the wickets, before Yorke was stumped by Whitell off the bowling of Ricky Bissex (1-25).

Tom Clark continued where Yorke had left off and despite surviving a few early chances batted well for his 58 before being run out by Stu Roberts. Holmes came and went, so it was left to Peter Clarke to guide his team home in partnership with Ballinger, who ended 77 not out, with nine balls to spare.

The Brunel Ford man of the match award went to Mark Bissex for his highest score for four seasons.

* With confusion over team selection and the M5 proving a nightmare, Weston 4ths were left with only eight men at the start of their match against Wrington.

Jon Lawrence had no choice but to bat after winning the toss and after some frantic phone calls the Eaglets eventually amassed 11 players.

Wrington got the best of starts, removing Flo Broderick in the second over caught and bowled by Fowler. Fowler followed this up in his next over trapping Dan Lomax leg before. Jon Lawrence (42) and Chad Smit (13) started to build a small partnership before Chad was bowled. Wilf Huxtable came to the crease and played a most sensible innings, taking the total along to 80 before Lawrence was caught by Yule.

Tom Dancey then joined Wilf and helped the score tick along, with 180 to 200 looking on the cards until Wilf was bowled. Terry Horler and Rhys Crocker went in quick succession, but Dom Mayo got an excellent nine, holding up his end perfectly and allowing Tom to progress to 29. When Tom was out the end quickly followed, as Weston finished on 147.

Wrington started their reply in steady but purposeful fashion, with Ford and Crowe putting 66 on for the first wicket before Crowe became the first of Lomax's two wickets, quickly followed by Ford.

With both the openers back in the pavilion for 67, the game took on a whole different complexion. Runs were difficult to come by with both Broderick (8-2-19-1) and Lomax (5-0-15-2) bowling tightly. Broderick was unlucky to pick up only one wicket.

The pressure eased when Lomax completed his alloted five overs and Broderick completed her eight. The introduction of Dom Mayo saw the Wrington skipper hole out, though by that time he had just about done enough to ensure victory.

Wrington took the winning run, and promotion, with 4.5 overs to go and Weston were left ruing the fact that they could not bat out their 40 overs.

The Brunel Ford man of the match award went to Dom Mayo.