WEPL Davidson stars for Weston in low-scoring thriller at Norton

CAPTAIN Chris Davidson produced an inspirational all-round performance as Weston-superMare made it three wins from three games with a thrilling low-scoring victory away to Midsomer Norton in WEPL Premier Two Bristol/ Somerset.

The visitors, who lost the toss, were in all kinds of trouble at 38-6 before Davidson dug in and battled his way to a top score of 32 off 74 balls, dragging his side up to a total of 94.

Danny Chard (4-38) was the pick of the Norton attack before Davidson then made his mark with the ball, reducing the home side from 27-1 to 50-9 with tremendous figures of 6-34 from ten overs.

Norton, though, weren’t finished and the last-wicket pairing of Chard and Chris Phylips came within seven runs of pulling off a memorable win before Chard was run out for 24.

Matt Knight kept the heat on for Weston with a return of 3-18, also from ten, as his side moved up a place to second.

Bristol remain in pole position following a three-wicket home triumph over Ilminster, who were bowled out for 145 after losing the toss. Harry Arthur (4-33) and Louie Shaw (3-13) inflicted most of the damage ahead of opener Nic Halstead Cleak (45) and Archie Fellowes (27 not out, 63 balls) edging their side to the spoils.

Next up for Bristol is a trip to Shapwick & Polden, who ended a run of two straight defeats with a comfortable four-wicket victory at Downend.

Opener Olly Sharp, on his league debut after signing from Stapleton, bashed 40 off 19 balls (four fours, four sixes).

Ruturaj Desai’s 45 at No 8 lifted the Bristol side to 175 all out before captain Calum Haggett (42) led

Shapwick’s reply, despite Desai following up with a good return of 3-37.

It was tighter in the north Bristol derby with Bishopston digging deep for a six-run success away to newcomers Golden Hill.

The visitors, who lost the toss, were on the back foot at 116-5 but finished their innings strongly thanks to Angus McKenzie (70), Dan Harris (55 not out) and Will Thirkell (41) to reach 270-5, with 65 runs coming from the final four overs.

Josh Beal and Daz Ahmed claimed two wickets apiece for Golden Hill, who came within a whisker of victory thanks mainly to former Pakistan Under-19 international Zeeshan Malik.

The all-rounder arrived in Bristol only the day before the game for his debut but settled quickly with an unbeaten 110 off 92 (nine fours, seven sixes).

Golden Hill were well placed at 252-3 before wickets began to fall. Dan Harris captured 3-30, while there were two scalps apiece for McKenzie and Lawrence Cook.

In the final game in this division, Winterbourne came up 17 runs short at Frome, for whom Sam Croker was unbeaten on 106.