Wembdon CC 1st XI 108 / 5 (25.3) vs North Perrott CC 1st XI 105 / All out (44.4)

WEMBDON'S 1st XI played host to North Perrott at The Green this weekend in their first league game of the season, writes Max Seymour.

Due to a delayed start, the game was reduced to 46 overs a side following a night and morning of rain.

Brockwell won the toss for Wembdon and chose to field first, which came as no surprise with windy overcast conditions heavily favouring the bowlers.

As Brockwell led the bowling attack with Pope, his decision was instantly backed up with him claiming a wicket in the first over, as Retter’s edge was caught behind by Pigden.

In the 5th over, Brockwell struck again as a glancing shot met by an incredible one-handed catch from Pigden down to his left sent Payne walking with the score at 6/2.

He didn’t stop there though, as Brockwell claimed his 3rd & 4th wickets thanks to catches from Pigden and Everett respectively, before smashing the base of Frost’s off stump to claim his fifer leaving North Perrott with 18/5.

Bingham and Singappuli entered the bowling attack with the score at 31/5, as batters Rowswell and Male tried to steady the ship for North Perrott while keeping the runs ticking over.

North Perrott ended their innings with a score of 105 all out after 44.4 overs.

Puddy and Bingham came out to open the batting and were met by an aggressive North Perrott bowling attack. Rowswell claimed Bingham’s wicket through an LBW dismissal in the first over seeing Everett come in at 3.

Everett did a good job at facilitating Puddy’s confident run scoring early on, securing a couple of boundaries including a lofted shot over mid on that raced away for 4. 

A couple of misfields and dropped catches let Wembdon get into their groove though as Puddy’s electric scoring continued, playing his shots all around the ground for consistent boundaries.

With Wembdon at 51/4, it was now Brockwell and Lowe at the crease.

Brockwell was welcomed by heavy appeals for a stumping in his second over followed by a dropped catch from the keeper the ball after.

But he would then go on to make them rue their chances to claim his wicket early on, hitting back-to-back 4s with a lovely drive along the surface followed by a glancing shot to the leg side off his shin, backed up by a huge 6 over the fielder at deep mid-wicket the following over.

This saw Rich come into bat with 29 needed to match North Perrott’s target of 105.

Quick scoring including a 6 into the pavilion followed by another back over the bowler’s head from Rich brought the win home for Wembdon in just the 26th over, hitting 20 runs from 14 balls.

This was a great way to start the season for Wembdon, and the team will hope to carry the confidence and energy shown in the field throughout the rest of the season.