WESTON 1st XI continued their 100 per cent record in the top division of the Globe Sports West of England Premier League with a nine-wicket victory over Downend.

WESTON 1st XI continued their 100 per cent record in the top division of the Globe Sports West of England Premier League with a nine-wicket victory over Downend.

After winning another toss, captain John Williams asked Dowend to bat, and after a devastating opening spell between Luke Parfitt and Robin d'Souza, Downend found themselves at 15 for 3, with both openers back in the pavilion.

The entrance of Matt Jackson to the crease to join Downend captain Mike Ponter (78 not out) saw their biggest partnership of the innings, with both finding the measure of Andy Fear and Ashley Allen, but just as he was getting going, Jackson was bamboozled by d'Souza, becoming the second of d'Souza's four wickets.

This marked a turning point in the game as within 10 overs Downend were reduced to 124 for 9, with Matt Kearsey joining the party (3-52), and d'Souza completing his economically spell 16-5-25-4. The Dowend number 11, Ahmed, played his role well, allowing Ponter to play around him, as Downend crept towards a second batting point, but the reintroduction of Fear into the attack soon became too much, and their innings closed on 153 from 49.3 overs.

The Jackson brothers started their task well, restricting the Weston opening combination of Edd Brown and Gary Morgan to less than the required run rate, Brown took his chances, being dropped twice, while Morgan cultivated the supporting role, but the Downend bowlers never looked like taking wickets.

Soon the runs began to flow, and despite some good fielding, Brown and Morgan took the game well and truly out of reach, the first and only Weston wicket to fall was Brown (75), at which point the game was already Weston's and it was only a matter of time for the winning runs to be hit, especially with the explosive d'Souza joining Morgan at the crease.

Disappointingly for Morgan the winning runs came from an off the pad glance, denying him what would have been a hard-fought and well deserved 50. Weston recorded a vital 31 points, maintaining their second spot in the league table.

Weston 3rds season became unstuck as a weakened side lost heavily by nine wickets at home to top of the table Shoscombe, despite the best efforts of Pete Lomax with 68.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Weston innings never really got going as wickets were lost at regular intervals, with Lomax receiving the greatest support from Matt Rihan (20) and Simon Biddle (20) as well as a quick-fire 29 not out from Mike Lee.

Despite the regular fall of wickets, the final total of 187-5 was thought to be dependable, whilst the pick of the Shoscombe bowlers was Adam Deverill with 2-26.

It soon became apparent during the Shoscombe reply that this was not the case as Tom Ballinger (31) and Rich Holmes took a liking to any lapses in line to take advantage of the fast outfield.

Ballinger was removed by the returning Pat Ball (3-0-22-1), however the old adage of one brings two did not come to fruition as Tom Clark (31 not out) joined Holmes (95 not out) in seeing Shoscombe over the line with more than seven overs to spare, despite the best efforts of Dan Lomax (6.5-1-41-0) and Stu Roberts (8-1-25-0) who both bowled well with little reward.

Brunel Ford Man of the Match goes to Pete Lomax.