BRIDGWATER picked up their first home win of the season on Saturday, sending a huge Parks crowd home happy with a 6 wicket win with 6 overs to spare.

With the summer finally arriving at a sun-drenched Parks, the large home support was treated to a good team performance, with Jake Lintott leading his side home with an unbeaten 101 from 128 balls, as Bridgwater overturned Lansdown’s 240 all out in the 44th over.

Lintott shared a match-winning stand of 118 for the 4th wicket with Somerset’s Will Smeed (74), which followed a disciplined bowling performance on a good wicket.

Lansdown had no hesitation in opting to bat first having won the toss, and visiting captain Jordan Smith and Dan Lezar made a watchful start against the impressive home attack of Matt Burton and Luke Pearson-Taylor.

Both new ball bowlers bowled a testing line and length without luck, beating the bat several times. Lansdown did not pass 50 until the first ball of the 18th over, such was the discipline in the field, with Bridgwater content to wait patiently for wickets.

To their credit, Smith (60) and Lezar (47) continued to build a solid foundation for their side to accelerate, however a mix up after drinks saw Lezar run out by a good throw by Mike Coles with the score on 106.

Lansdown number 3, Noah Davis, immediately upped the ante with a selection of drives and sweeps, as he set about increasing the run rate, however Alex Eckland rotated his bowlers well, which enabled the home side to remain in control of the game.

Smith fell for a well-made 60, caught by Lintott in the deep off of Charlie Sharland, and the returning Pearson-Taylor clean bowled the dangerous Marc Lezar, as wickets began to fall on at regular intervals.

When Davis (45 from 34 balls) fell to the persistent Max Toohey, Lansdown had fallen to 183 for 5, and when Welsh captain, Sam Pearce, fell to a brilliant running catch by Pearson-Taylor, Bridgwater had broken the back of the visiting batting, which enabled the returning Burton (2-32) and Pearson-Taylor (3-46) to clean up the tail inside the 50 overs.

After tea, Lansdown’s contrasting opening attack of the pacey Josh Smith and leg spinner Praneel Choughule bowled a testing spell, as James Regan (9) and Lintott worked hard to build the innings.

Regan fell LBW playing across the line to Smith and when Sharland came and went for a duck the visitors were very much in the game at 31 for 2.

Skipper Eckland steadied the ship with Lintott, as they put on 52, seeing off the dangerous Smith (1-22) who bowled a fine spell of left arm seam.

Lintott brought up his fifty from 67 balls, however it was a surprise when Eckland fell LBW for 17 with the score on 83, which brought Smeed to the crease.

He and Lintott set about the change bowlers, who didn’t carry the same threat as the opening attack, with Smeed particularly savage on anything short, treating the crowd to 7 sixes.

Lintott played beautifully, with boundaries all around the wicket, with a mix of sweeps and drives a feature of the innings.

The aggressive stand of 118 was broken when Smeed went for one big shot too many and fell for an excellent 74 from only 54 balls, including four fours and seven sixes.

Coles (15no) joined Lintott to see his side home to a comfortable win, allowing Lintott to bring his hundred to a huge ovation from the home supporters, finishing unbeaten on 101 from 128 balls, including 11 fours and 2 sixes.

Match Sponsor: Alan and Isaac Windsor,

Match Ball Sponsor: TMB Patterns Ltd