Weston fall nine runs short in their National Knockout game against Taunton Deane.

OVERNIGHT rain looked like preventing Weston’s National Knockout game against Taunton Deane from going ahead, but play started on time.

The Weston bowlers, in particular Tom Main (2-37), Jalal Ahmed (2-31) and Ashley Allen (3-39) made the most of the green wicket reducing the opposition to 126-9.

Of Taunton Deane’s top order only Ben Trepess offered any resistance, making 62. The experienced Jason Squire and Dave Jessep refused to give up their wickets and bolstered the total as Taunton posted 178-9.

In reply, Rob Turner and Simon Green got off to a good start, posting nearly a third of the required total inside 10 overs, before Green was out. This sparked a mini collapse as Turner, Shabil Ahmed and Paul Stringer quickly followed, but captain Gary Morgan stood firm.

Tom Ford batted well for a time and despite a number of players trying to hang around two ill-judged runs meant that Morgan, having hit a well-deserved half century, ran out of partners and left Tom Court and Allen to try and win the game, but Weston were bowled out nine runs short.

The InTouch CRM man of the match was Gary Morgan.

? Weston 1st XI took on title holders Bath in the opening round of the Globe Sports sponsored WEPL Premier Division and despite the overnight rain started only 15 minutes late.

Bath captain Tom Stayt won the toss and elected to bat first which, when Shabil Ahmed assisted Sam Trego in taking a slip catch off Adam Davies (1-54) to send Stayt back to the clubhouse after just six overs, Weston thought their luck might be in.

But Alex Barrow began to dominate at one end as Mike Smyth and Luke Padgett followed not far behind Stayt. Ross Jenkins (42) joined Barrow and the two young batsmen rotated the strike to their advantage.

Jenkins departed with 20 overs still to bat, with Bath well on their way to a competitive total. Matt Gitsham (36 not out) then joined Barrow and helped steer him towards a well-deserved century.

Bath finished their 48 overs having posted the competitive total of 253-5. The pick of the Weston bowlers was Tom Main, who picked up 2-45.

Weston managed just eight overs after tea, losing Simon Green, before rain scuppered any chance of a result. The InTouch CRM man of the match was Tom Main.