Uphill Castle were well beaten by the visitors Wellington by 49 runs.

UPHILL Castle hosted Wellington and were beaten by 49 runs.

Uphill won the toss and elected to bowl and started with a brilliant opening spell of fast bowling from George Cox (10-2-31-0). Mitch Fox (6-0-34-1) got the first breakthrough bowling Short for two.

Cattermole (10-1-53-1) got his breakthrough catching Holloway lbw. This brought Gouws to the crease and looked to attack the Uphill bowlers from the outset, but was in trouble from a direct hit from Andy Llewellyn, but was given not out and caused injury to Uphill player Jack Biggs in the process.

This lifeline allowed Gouws to proceed with his attacking style and dispatching the ball to all parts of the ground, but with the tight bowling of Matthews (6-0-31-2), Gouws played one shot too many and was brilliantly caught by Fox.

The next ball, Murdock was caught lbw by Matthews, which started to push the momentum in Uphill’s favour. The introduction of Bail (10-1-23-0) and Ward (8-1-32-3) allowed Uphill to take regular wickets, restricting Wellington to 212-8 off their 50 overs.

In reply, Millard took nine off the first over, but Bail was bowled first ball with a full-toss. Uphill lost wickets at a regular rate reducing the chase to 41-4, before Llewellyn and Fox made a fightback until Llewellyn was bowled.

Fox held his own throughout the Uphill innings and never looked in danger on his way to 64 not out. Cox (13) and Belcher (14) provided some support as Uphill were bowled out for 163, which gave Uphill some vital batting points.

Uphill will take the positives into Saturday’s home game against Butleigh.

A WEAKENED 2nd XI were beaten by 74 runs at Wincanton.

Batting first, the home side were bowled out for 187 on a slow wicket, with wickets shared between Sam Frost (10.5-1-59-4), Gareth Williams (12-2-45-3) and Andy Leech (10-0-23-2).

In reply, Uphill lost wickets regularly as they were bowled out for 113. Only Connor Davidson (22), Williams (19), Dave Bickell (14), Ashley Doyle (11) and Frost (11) reached double figures.