Weston recorded their second successive victory with a convincing display at Chard.

WESTON made it two consecutive victories with a convincing win away at Chard.

Electing to bowl first, the visitors got off to the perfect start as Charl Willoughby removed Wighton lbw with the first ball of the game. Sean Stringer followed up by removing the other opener, Mawdsley without scoring.

Tom Wright and Retter dug in to get through the first 10 overs, but Chris Davidson came on and removed Retter caught at cover before finding the edge of Hayes’ bat in the same over.

An edge from Stringer went down in the slips, but this just fired him up more as he bowled Scott for nought and had Wells-Burr caught behind by the deputising wicket keeper Howson. Stringer was the pick of the Weston attack with figures of 10-5-23-3.

Willoughby and Davidson rotated their overs from one end and picked up a further wicket each.

At 55-8, Richard Scott joined Wright and he was able to offer the necessary support. Despite the best efforts of the Weston bowlers, he was able to use up 49 balls which enabled Wright to reach his third successive half century.

Andy Fear bowled a luckless spell going for only six runs from his seven overs, while Willoughby (10-3-26-2) and Davidson (10-2-23-3) bowled brilliantly. Ashley Allen came on and trapped Scott lbw before some lusty blows from Wright brought the 100 up. Shabil Ahmed clean bowled him shortly after to restrict Chard to 101, picking up seven bowling points.

Jamie Howson has an excellent day behind the stumps, but the Weston seam attack deserve the plaudits.

Fear and Tom Ford opened the innings and Ford made the most of a first ball edge landing short to take advantage of anything loose. The opening pair reached 67 in quick time before Ford was bowled without playing a shot by Chris Scott for 27.

Ahmed joined Fear and the pair pushed the field running hard singles, but Ahmed caught and bowled.

James King was bowled, but with just 11 needed for victory, Fear (34 not out) and Davidson took Weston to victory by seven wickets.

This was an excellent performance by Weston and they are just 16 points from the top. The Forte Financial men of the match were Weston’s seam attack, Stringer, Willoughby, Davidson and Fear.

On Saturday, Weston welcome second-placed Potterne to Devonshire Road, starting at 12.30pm.

CHARD

T Wighton lbw Willoughby 0

R Mawdsley b Stringer 0

T Wright b Ahmed 59

G Retter c Allen b Davidson 4

J Hayes c Howson b Davidson 0

J Scott b Stringer 0

S Wells-Burr c Howson b Stringer 1

C Scott lbw Willoughby 3

T Balch c Ford b Davidson 0

R Scott lbw Allen 13

J Draper not out 0

Extras 21

Total 101

Bowling: C Willoughby 10-3-26-2; S Stringer 10-5-23-3; C Davidson 10-2-24-3; A Fear 7-3-6-0; A Allen 4-0-12-1; S Ahmed 1.1-0-7-1.

WESTON

A Fear not out 34

T Ford b Scott 29

S Ahmed c&b Wright 8

J King b Scott 5

C Davidson not out 8

Extras 21

Total (3 wkts) 105