Watchet Cricket Club

Watchet 1^st XI v Banwell 1^st XI

Watchet's good all round performance ensured they won their home fixture with Banwell by 66 runs on Saturday.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat first on a very wet wicket Chris Sully and Martin Strong got Watchet off to a flying start, putting on 45 runs for the first wicket before Strong was bowled for 25.

Philip Milton and Sully pushed the score to 78 when Sully was bowled for 31, and Milton soon after for 21.

Banwell were back in the game as Watchet struggled to 96 for 4 but Clive Strong's appearance accelerated the scoring rate as he hit a quick 44 and with the lower also scoring, Watchet's innings closed on 202 for 7.

John Briggs was the pick of the Banwell bowlers taking 2 for 22 from 11 overs. Philip Sylvester struck early for Watchet removing the dangerous Briggs with his third ball and went on to bowl another excellent spell taking 2 for 20 from 8 overs.

However, Watchet's bowling hero on the day was Matt Lovell who bowled 12 overs unchanged, with the luck that had eluded him from the past season as Liam Woolgrove took two fantastic catches off of his bowling.

Edward Martin stepped in to take over the wicket keeping duties and responded with four victims, 3 from Lovell's bowling including a sharp stumping. Martin's fourth victim was Lovell's fifth as he demolished Banwell's middle order and finished with 5 for 37.

With 7 overs left and Banwell requiring 80 runs for victory, Watchet went in search of maximum points putting every fielder in close. Liam claimed his first wicket of the season in the penultimate over. Jason Strong bowled Pearson in the last over to give Watchet a maximum three wins.

Watchet: 202-7 (C. Strong 44, C. Sully 31, J Briggs 2-22).

Banwell: 136 (M. Adams 52, R. Salter 26, M. Lovell 5-37, P Sylvester 2-20, J. Strong 2-).

Points: Watchet 35 Banwell 13

© Watchet Cricket Club 2005