WEPL Shaw takes five as Bristol win low-scoring Taunton tussle
GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S Josh Shaw produced an inspired spell of pace bowling as Bristol closed out a nerve-tingling 10-run win away to Taunton Deane on their return to WEPL’s Premier Division.
The visitors struggled to total just 79 after losing the toss, with winter signing Sam Bracey, formerly of Winterbourne, top-scoring with 20, while Jack Shelley contributed 19 as Somerset’s Ben Green, Ed Mellor and Ben Chaffey bagged three wickets apiece.
But Deane found runs even more hard to come by as Shaw produced a devastating burst of 5-21 from nine - including three wickets in his fifth over.
The home side were suddenly on the ropes at 23-5 before battling back and appearing to be in the driving seat at 62-6 before a double strike from Jack Shelley helped spark a collapse to 69 all out and hand Bristol a perfect start to the new campaign following last summer’s promotion and last week’s wash out.
Next up for Bristol is a derby trip on Saturday to Bedminster, who succumbed by seven wickets at home to Bridgwater.
Gloucestershire spinner Tom Smith top-scored with a patient 54 from 102 balls but Bridgy held the upper hand through Dan Williams (3-28 from ten overs) and Jake Lintott (2-38) who shone with the ball before Somerset’s Will Smeed cracked a typically breezy unbeaten 46 from 35 balls (four fours, three sixes).
Champions Bath were threewicket victors away to Taunton St Andrews (83), while West Indian paceman Oshane Thomas captured 3-33 for promoted Frocester, who dispatched Chippenham by
60 runs, and Lansdown edged Potterne by three runs.
» Captain Justin Yau’s fine return of 5-55 from ten overs saw Congresbury to a 41-run success away to Knowle in the Bristol & North Somerset division.
The visitors’ challenge of 259-7 after losing the toss owed much to Joe Thompson’s 77 from 83 balls (six fours, four sixes) before Yau’s testing spell pegged back Knowle’s reply, as captain Joe Brimble topscored on 44.
Congresbury will now be home on Saturday to Twyford House, who eased in by five wickets at home to Winterbourne, who were
dismissed for 105. Tom Armfield banked impressive figures of 3-9 from ten overs.
An opening stand of 164 between Ashiv Lakhani (112 not out) and Bobby Brown (77) put Bristol 2nds on course for an eight-wicket home success over Brislington.
The visitors’ challenge of 229 was dominated by Milo Ayres’ superb 114 from 83 (16 fours, three sixes) as Dan Jones bagged 3-49 before Lakhani and Brown took centre stage.
Promoted sides Frenchay and Bristol West Indian Phoenix both suffered defeats.
Frenchay bowled out Bath 2nds for 193, as Jacob Cumming and Ben Helps both captured three wickets.
But the Bristol side came up 22 runs short, as Mike Donaldson top -scored on 41 and David Ford finished with 4-24.
BWIP, meanwhile, were bowled out for 121 at home to Bedminster 2nds. Sam Bowen bagged 4-23 before George Davey’s crucial unbeaten 37 then helped seal the points.
» Richard Trotman, of Twyford House and Gloucestershire, will captain England Over 50s in a oneday international against the United States on July 4 at Radlett CC.