Wembdon 239 for 7 defeats Chard 166 AO

WINNING the toss, Wembdon elected to bat first. With the sun shining and blue skies, it was a good toss to win.

Everett and Anning opened the batting for Wembdon against the fiery Cloete.

The overseas quick was partnered by Evans, who only bowled a short 2 over spell which was dispatched for 10.

Cloete was a lot more threatening with Everett taking a short ball to the shoulder.  The Wembdon pair remained resilient to see off Cloete and started to score more freely.

After 10 overs the score had moved on to 31 without loss.

Chard rotated their bowlers and this included several spin options.  Despite the changes Anning and Everett continued their fine opening partnership with the run rate increasing.  After 20 overs, Wembdon had reached 74 without loss.

In the 21st over Chard got their breakthrough. Club stalwart Dalwood took an excellent low catch off his own bowling, which saw Anning unluckily depart for 36. An opening stand of 80 was the best partnership for sometime.

Love returning to the side shared 15 runs for the 2nd wicket, Evans returned for a 3rd and final over which conceded 10 runs but also had Love caught behind.

The new man was the in-form Sri Lankan De Zoysa. He was quick to get off the mark conceding very few dot balls. Quick singles and several boundaries helped add a further 58 for the 3rd wicket. This time, it was Everett who departed in the 38th over for a solid 68 from 100 deliveries, caught behind.

Wembdon were well positioned with 10 over to go at 153 for 3.

As Wembdon increased the run rate they lost De Zoysa as he hauled out for 31.

Trunks, who had been on a difficult run of low scores, partnered Brockwell. Trunks was a little more patient than normal and grew into his innings, with his eye in he landed some large maximums blasting 31 from 18 deliveries.

Brockwell added 16 from 22 as the pair added 49 for the 5th wicket taking the score past 200.

With the score on 206 both Brockwell caught at long on and Trunks at slip off Cloete departed. With 5 overs remaining the new pair were Bingham and Lowe with the aim of getting as near 250 as they could. Having seen off Cloete the pair scored freely whilst the Chard bowlers varied their speeds challenging the batters.

The pair were able to land several more boundaries, adding 28 for the 7th and final wicket.  Bingham departed for 19 off 17 stumped in the final over of the innings with Wembdon on 234. With 4 balls, remaining Pope added 5 and Wembdon finished with a strong total of 239 for 7.

After tea, a tight spell from Brockwell restricted the openers, whilst Pope off the back of 6 for last week removed the dangerous Mawdsley in the 4th over LBW.

Despite accurate bowling and only conceding 25 runs in the proceeding 13 overs Wembdon went wicketless.

In the 18th over the introduction of De Zoysa got the breakthrough, trapping Parsons LBW for 15. A flurry of wickets followed as Brockwell picked up a much deserved wicket in his final over. His opening spell of 10 overs conceding just 10 runs. De Zoysa then had a caught and bowled and shortly after had another with Bingham taking the catch at slip.

Chard were now 42 for 5 at the drinks break and a long way from winning. Valiantly, they put together a 13 over partnership much to Wembdon's frustration.  Davies had his first bowl of the league campaign and Love had some overs of off-spin. Everett was then introduced along with Bingham, the latter replaced in favour of De Zoysa spin.

After 13 overs and a partnership of 68, largely down to some clean striking by Cloete, his partner Dalwood departed, stumped by Pigden off De Zoysa, his 4th of the afternoon.

Karl Trunks was run out, brilliantly executed by Everett, leaving Chard 117 for 7. Everett would then trap Cloete LBW but not before he'd reach a stand out 77 from 82 deliveries.

Pope then returned two wrap up the tail, a caught and bowled, and then bowling R Scott finishing with 3 for 28.

Chard all out in the 48th over recovering for a more respectable 166.

Wembdon's unbeaten run continues and hosts Temple Cloud next Saturday who are themselves on a good run of results.

On Sunday, Wembdon travelled to Uphill Castle for the rearranged area semi-final of the National Village Cup.

Uphill batted first and posted 162 from their 40 overs.

The response was anchored by Anning who scored 59 from 52 deliveries.  14 from Lowe, 15 from Bingham and 22 not out from Trunks saw Wembdon home in the 28th over.

Wembdon progressed to the Avon and Somerset Group Final versus North Perrott.