Shrubbery Hotel Somerset League
Division 4
Lympsham & Belvedere 274-4 beat Wembdon 2nds 133 by 141 runs

ON a real scorcher of a day, Lympsham & Belvedere faced Wembdon in an early start to compensate for England’s World Cup clash with Sweden.

L&B won the toss and batted, and Mike Hosey (29) and Dave Luff put on 54 inside 10 overs.

Accurate bowling from Wembdon’s spinners reduced the scoring rate but the 26th over saw the return of Jack Luff, who showed how much he’s been missed in previous weeks with his ability to manoeuvre the ball and relieve the scoreboard pressure applied by the spinners.

Dave Luff was removed by Fagon for 52 when Jack was joined by Sam McCrea.

From the final nine overs Luff and McCrea (36*) put on 117 runs to lift the score to 274-4, with Luff finishing on 112 not out from 60 balls including 13 fours and four sixes.

After the extended tea break spent watching England win, Wembdon showed from ball one that they were going to go for it.

Sam McCrea (5-17) took early wickets to remove the dangerous Tom Lott (4) soon after removing Watts and Anning for ducks.

McCrea was supported well by Andy Taylor (1-28) as Wembdon were reduced to 44-5.

Rees (29) and Pidgen (48) put on a fine sixth-wicket stand before both were removed by Jack Neville (3-23) as Wembdon were bowled out for 133.

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THERE was less Shrubbery Hotel Somerset Cricket League action than usual for the region’s sides on Saturday as several games were re-arranged due to England’s World Cup quarter-final against Sweden.

Huntspill & District will now make their Division 4 trip to Wellington 2nds on Sunday, July 29, with the 2nd team’s Division 7N match at home to Uphill Castle 3rds moved to Sunday, August 5.

Of those that did play in Division 7N, Lympsham & Belvedere 2nds enjoyed a 10-wicket win at Purnell 2nds.

After agreeing an early start, the home side batted first and were greeted by both CJ Neate (1-24) and Tom Ferns (2-15) finding a lot of bounce on a hard and dry strip.

It was Neate who struck first, clean bowling the opening batsman before Ferns had the other opener caught by Brian Hosey with just 20 runs on the board.

Ferns struck again before Jon Lodge (2-17) then got into the act with another clean bowled wicket.

Skipper Stuart Bruce (5-20) had his 13-year-old son Fraser to thank for his first wicket when he held on to a high catch at cover and, as the crowds started to arrive for the football, more wickets fell thanks to catches from Sam Neate, Felix Grandfield and another from vice-captain Hosey.

Purnell’s were eventually dismissed for just 86 when the last man was clean bowled and the Lympsham & Belvedere fielders should take a lot of credit for some great stops and of course safe catching.

After an extended tea, openers Sam Neate (31no) and Kevin Crockett (41no) wasted no time in setting after the target and reached 87 in just 13 overs with both hitting some fine fours and Crockett with an impressive six over the longest boundary.

With maximum points achieved, the team now look forward to a game against Weston 4ths at Lympsham next week.

Man of the match for his five wickets was Stuart Bruce.

Mark re-arranged their home match against Winscombe for Sunday but had a day to forget, being bowled out for 70.

Only Nick Ollerenshaw (10) and Mike Norris (12) made it into double figures for Mark but there were no such problems for Winscombe, who cruised home by 10 wickets in just seven overs.

East Huntspill beat Cannington by 46 runs in Division 3 of the West Somerset League, B. Winters taking 4-26.