WEPL Shaw stars with bat and ball on Bristol debut in win over Frome

JOSH Shaw made a memorable debut for Bristol, smashing his side out of trouble with a rapid half-century and following up with a return of 3-23, to help clinch a 33-run home win over Frome in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset of the West of England Premier League.

The Gloucestershire star, pictured, came to the wicket with his new side in all kinds of strife at 45-6 but responded with 52 off 33 (one four, four sixes) before he was last man out with the total on 121.

Frome, in reply, were well set at 44-0 but were quickly reduced to 52-5 thanks to fine work from seamers Tommy Probert and Dan Jones who went to finish with 4-17 and 2-18, respectively. Shaw wrapped things up with a devastating burst to clinch a second victory of the campaign for Bristol who are eager to return to Premier One.

So, too, are Weston-super-Mare, who made it three wins from three with an eight-wicket triumph at North Perrott.

After a rain-delayed start, Nottinghamshire’s Pete Trego made another important contribution to the Seasiders’ latest win, capturing 3-20 as the home side were restricted to 100-6 from 21 overs. Ryan Davies then wasted no time in sealing the points, crashing an unbeaten 55 from 35 balls as the target was reached in 10 overs. Bishopston opened their account with a three-wicket victory away to Bath 2nds, who totalled 169-9, Dan Harris bagging 3-31. Jack Penn (45) and former skipper Dave O’Brien (35 not out) then saw Bish over the line.

Winterbourne were 16-0 off six overs down at Ilminster when the rain had the final word, while Taunton St Andrews’ home meeting with Midsomer Norton was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The weather badly affected the league programme for a second successive weekend but three results were possible in Premier One, including a hard-earned fiverun home success for Downend against Bedminster (see umpiring story below). Clevedon lost by four wickets at champions Potterne in a game reduced to 21 overs because of rain. The visitors fought their way to 129, thanks to Will Carpenter (31) and Max Horton (22). In reply, Potterne were flying at 95-1 thanks to Basil Akram’s 67 from 32 (four fours, seven sixes) only to collapse to 117-6 before reaching a revised DLS target with a bit to spare.

Bridgwater went top courtesy of a six-wicket success at Lansdown.

There were just two results in Bristol & North Somerset. Zemroy Thomas finished with terrific figures of 5-17 to help set up a threewicket win for Bristol West Indian Phoenix at Knowle, while Alan Hunt (65) plus spinners Sam Matthews (3-15) and Rob Jones (3-28) shone for Bristol 2nds who downed Congresbury by 72 runs.