CRICKET: Burnham-on-Sea and Lympsham & Belvedere in Somerset League action

BURNHAM-ON-SEA’s season of struggle continued, as the Premier Division’s bottom side were – perhaps predictably – rolled over by pacesetters Taunton Deane 2nds on Saturday.

Hosts Burnham were put in to bat by Deane, and their top three batsmen made four runs between them as Jason Squire (1-32 off seven overs) and Matt Derham (2-30 off seven) caused havoc.

Brad House (29) and Lee Coles (57) kept disaster at bay for a while, but the destructive Dominic McFarlane (4-35 off nine) removed both.

Jim Bloodworth contributed 16 to the score, but McFarlane and Luke Williams (2-14 off four) were in merciless mood for Deane.

Ultimately, the hosts were all out for 132 off 32.2 overs.

That total proved a walk in the park for the league leaders, openers Brendan Craggs (66) and Alastair Warren (50) easing their way to the finish line in 24.2 overs, to collect 35 points to Burnham’s six.

Peter Harris bowled a competent 0-24 off nine for the hosts, who will surely take the drop down to a less punishing level with some relief.

This Saturday sees them host fourth-bottom side Middlezoy, with matches in the league’s top five divisions now starting at 1pm.

***

Shrubbery Hotel Somerset League
Division 3
Lympsham & Belvedere 274-7 beat Chard 2nds 130 by 144 runs

LYMPSHAM & Belvedere moved up to fourth in Division 3 with a crushing win away to Chard 2nd XI on Saturday.

The visitors were asked to bat first, and Sam McCrea (50) and Dave Luff put on 87 for the first wicket.

Neil Chadwick (3) and Jack Luff’s (15) departures left Lympsham three down, but Nathan Hancock (38) joined Luff snr in pushing the score on with regular boundaries.

Dave Luff carried on his march towards a century, while Callum Neate added a quick-fire 18.

Lympsham ended their 45 overs on 274-7, with opener Luff finishing with an unbeaten 104 that included 13 boundaries.

Come the reply, the bowlers found good consistency, as McCrea (2-21 off seven overs) and Andy Taylor (1-16 off six) made early inroads, leaving the hosts on 39-3.

Sam Jennings (1-23 off five) entered the fray and removed Stephen Dening (12), well caught by Jack Neville, before Tom Ferns’ (2-7 off five) outswing ripped through the middle order.

Paul Grinter (20) resisted before falling to Neate (1-19 off two), as did Ricky Stoodley (35), but, fittingly, the game ended with a run-out from Dave Luff.

Chard were all out for 130 in 29 overs, handing 35 points to Lympsham, who host basement side Huish & Langport this Saturday.

***

HUNTSPILL & District lost their mid-table Division 4 clash with Crewkerne by 26 runs, despite a fine half-centuries from Nick Slack and Jake Randall.

Crewkerne’s innings of 224-6 was led by Chris Gould’s unbeaten 96.

When Huntspill replied, Slack and Randall maintained the run chase but Darren Parsons’ 6-40 scuppered their chances.

In Division 6N, Wedmore kept in the title race with a six-wicket win over Cheddar 2s who were restricted to 137-9.

Sam Blackburn (3-19 off 8) and Martyn Boley (3-12) kept the total within bounds and Boley followed up with an unbeaten 60 to seal the points.

Struggling Burnham 2s lost to high-flying Churchill by eight wickets after they could only post 139-8.

Andy Ashfold, who carried his bat for 60, and Pete Gaylard (43) laid the foundation for a big total but it was followed by a spectacular slump as Oli Masters took 3-15.

Churchill coasted home with Ben Corfield (44no) and Kyran Gale (37no) ensuring victory.

Bottom club East Huntspill must have thought they were in with a sniff against Temple Cloud 2s after posting 189-3 thanks to Wayne Hand’s unbeaten 74 and Kevin Watts’ 37.

However, when Temple Cloud 2s replied, openers Tom Haydon (84no) and Alex Comer (90no) were in uncompromising mood and passed the target in the 24th over.

Lympsham & Belvedere 2s had a fine victory at home to second-placed Uphill Castle 3s after they posted 185 all out in Division 7N.

At 100-8, Lympsham were in trouble, then Jon Lodge came to the wicket to smash 53, including seven 4s and two 6s, to turn the game on its head. Hayden Watts (3-21) was the pick of the Uphill bowlers.

In reply, Kevin Crockett, Stuart Bruce and Tom Gooding (1-18 off 8) kept a stranglehold on the Uphilll batsmen and reduced them to 144 all out.

Huntspill & District 2s ensured safety from the drop when they won their encounter with bottom club Mark.

Huntspill hit 179-5 with skipper Steve Cavill leading the way with 53.

In reply, Mark struggled throughout, being all out for 71 as Connor Lefrere and Matt Cavill took four wickets apiece.

On Sunday, Wedmore 2s lost their home Division 8N encounter with Churchill 2s by four wickets after being bowled out for 122, Marcus Lee hitting 30.