Watchet had a comfortable five wicket win over Hardington & West Coker in their first home league game of the season on Saturday. Their opening bowlers kept the runs to only two an over for the first 14 overs as the visitors batted first. Matt Lovell bowled his 12 overs straight off for only 21 runs and was unlucky not to take more than one wicket. Liam Woolgrove was a bit wayward at first but once he found his rhythm he became hard to score off as Lovell had been and had more luck, claiming 4 wickets. 

Ed Knibbs looked in fine for Hardington & West Coker but as he seemed set to push the run rate along he was caught on the boundary by the calm Chris Bishop off the bowling of Norman Yaw, who picked up two quick wickets. The visitor’s innings finished on 154 for 8 with Woolgrove bagging his fourth wicket thanks to Adam Bishop holding on to a difficult catch. 

After tea, Hardington & West Coker took two quick wickets leaving Watchet struggling on 15 for 2, but a steady third-wicket stand of 60 between captain Martin Strong and Adam Bishop put them back on course. When Bishop was bowled for 28 in the 21^st over, Clive Strong partnered his brother in a 38 run blitz from only four overs before being bowled for 26.

By now Hardington & West Coker looked well beaten, but the game still had to be won and although the run rate had slowed a little, Martin Strong made certain of the victory before being caught for 69, leaving Chris Bishop and Lovell to wrap up the win. 

Hardington & West Coker: 154-8 (E Knibbs 37, L Woolgrove 4-34, N Taw 2-13). 

Watchet: 156-5 (M Strong 69, A Bishop 28, C Strong 26, A Knibbs 3-37) 

Points: Watchet 33 Hardington & West Coker 12