West of England Cricket League Premier 1
Bridgwater 272-8 beat Lechlade 173 by 99 runs

GEORGE Bartlett scored a brilliant century as Bridgwater bounced back from last week’s defeat to Potterne with a convincing 99-run win away to Lechlade on Saturday.

Batting first on a slow pitch, Bridgwater lost skipper Merv Hallaran with only 16 runs on the board, but this brought Bartlett to the crease to join Todd Barrett for what would turn out to a be a 124-run partnership. 

Bartlett scored freely from the moment he walked to crease, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground, and the youngster was ably assisted by Barrett (47), who found his stride after a watchful start. 

Barrett was dismissed caught and bowled by Young, but this did not halt the visitors’ scoring as Bartlett began to accelerate further in a 96-ball knock of 105 which included 11 fours and three 6s. 

Stuart Butt looked in good form with a fine straight six off the bowling of Young but fell on 26 as yet another batting collapse threatened to stall the visitors’ progress. 

Bridgwater lost five wickets for only 11 runs as they went from 204-3 to 215-7, and it was left to Will Williams (26*) and Chris Singleton (21) to add valuable late-order runs as the visitors finished on an imposing 272-8.

In reply, Lechlade began well despite losing Young early on, bowled by Williams. 

Bridgwater struggled to contain the flow of boundaries with Dial (41) and Breet (31) looking in good form for the home side. 

However, the introduction of Tom Bevan (1-33) spelled the end of Breet’s innings as he was trapped LBW by the Bridgwater off-spinner. 

Another bowling change worked for Bridgwater with Liam Redrup (2-28) removing Dial as he nicked an unplayable delivery behind to Rich Eckley.

Bridgwater went through the gears as Lechlade went from 106-2 to 142-6 with wickets for Barrett (1-25) and Butt (1-15). 

Singleton (2-44) and Williams returned to wrap up the game with some accurate seam bowling and Lechlade were eventually all out for 173 in the 41st over.

New Zealander Will Williams was once again the pick of the Bridgwater bowlers with 3-26.

BRIDGWATER 2nds were also victorious, thumping Staplegrove by 165 runs in WEPL Somerset Division.

John Hill (75*) and Ben Coombes (71) were the main run scorers in the home team’s total of 291-5, which proved far too much for the visitors.

Matt Habberfield took 4-41 for Bridgwater, with his namesake Ed claiming 3-34 from his eight overs as the hosts closed out a convincing victory.