Bridgwater CC strengthened their second placed positioning in the Premier One division of WEPL after a rapid 19-ball half-century from Ryan Thorpe helped secure a big 54-run win over third place Burbage and Easton Royals CC.

Thorpe came in with his team at 198-6 after 45 overs and proceeded to smash Burbage’s tail end bowlers about, hitting five fours and four maximums over the boundary as he added the cherry on top of Bridgwater’s fine innings, taking them to an uncatchable 259 runs.

Burbage’s batsmen did try to reach the run score, but Bridgwater bowled tight and true with Matt Burton and Luke Taylor taking three wickets apiece to help topple their visiting opponents for 205 runs in the 47th over.

Bridgwater captain Alex Eckland elected to bat first and saw his team put on a brilliant batting display in which six men hit over 25 runs.

Openers James Regan and Taylor combined for 28 runs before Taylor was dismissed for 12 early in the 5th over.

Harminder Singh then joined Regan in the middle as the pair both went on to hit 38 runs until they were caught just five balls apart at the end of the 20th over, with Bridgwater at 92-3.

It was then Charlie Sharland and captain Eckland’s turn to add onto the score as Sharland hit 25 runs whilst Eckland came painstakingly close to a half-century with his 48 from 73 balls, helping his team to 192-5 before he was caught at the start of the 45th.

Mike Coles came in at six and added a calm 26 runs before Thorpe smashed his rapid half-century to help take his team to 258-9 after the full 50 overs.

Bridgwater knew a decent bowling spell would likely take them to victory and they delivered with pleasure.

Matt Burton, 3-55 from 8.1 overs, took his first wicket in the third over before Taylor, 3-39 from eight overs, took a brace just three balls late to put Burbage at 4-3 very early on.

They fought back to 66-4, 104-6, and 172-8 but Bridgwater continued to take consistent wickets.

Dan Williams, 1-39, Max Toohey, 1-28, Sharland, 1-9, and Regan, 1-17, all claimed a scalp as they bowled out Burbage’s line-up for 205 runs all out after 46.1 overs.

The 54-run win means Bridgwater gain all 20 league points and now go on to face seventh placed Bishopston on July 6th.