Watchet Cricket Club

Watchet 1^st XI v North Newton 1^st XI

Watchet leapfrogged over North Newton into second place in Division Three after another top class team performance saw them win at home by 51 runs.

Watchet batted first and the visitors started well taking wickets at regular intervals. Adam Bishop steadied the ship with a solid 30 in his first home appearance for the first eleven.

At 76 for 5 Watchet were still in trouble against a strong North Newton bowling attack. Bishop's knock laid the platform for the lower order batsmen to push the run rate along more freely.

Jason Strong and Liam Woolgrove put on 35 valuable runs before Eddie Haberfield removed them both in an economic spell of 2 for 7 off of 5 overs.

At 110 for 7 North Newton were again on top, but a match winning partnership followed as David Milton and Andrew Pyne put on 50 runs for the eighth wicket.

Milton weighed in with some lusty blows, claiming the only six of the match, before being bowled by Matt Habberfield for 25. Pyne palyed some fine shots finishing undefeated on 27, his highest league score for the first eleven.

Watchet's total of 160 didn't look enough, but with their in-form seam attack they soon made inroads into North Newton's top order.

Jason strong bowled captain Mark Barnham and Phil Sylvester took three wickets in quick succession, just missing out on a hat trick. North Newton were left struggling on 44 for 4 after 16 overs. 

Martin Strong and Liam Woolgrove then put on a strangle hold on the runs as the next 16 overs produced just 18. This left North Newton 65 for with only 13 overs left.

With the introduction of Matt Lovell, the match was soon won as he mopped up the tail with 4 for 17. North Newton scored 109 of which E. Stone scored 48.

The results leave Watchet just behind leaders South Petherton, who visit the Memorial Ground on Saturday 25th June for the first time in the league.

Watchet: 160-9 (A. Bishop 30, A. Pyne 27 no, D. Milton 25, J. Strong 23, E. Habberfield 2-7, M. Habberfield 2-35).

North Newton: 109 (E. Stone 48, M. Lovell 4-17, P. Sylvester 3-16).

Points: Watchet 33 North Newton 14

© Watchet Cricket Club 2005