MINEHEAD hosted fellow strugglers Shapwick & Polden last weekend, still eagerly looking for the first win of the season in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League.

Captain Dan Bowditch called correctly at the toss and chose to bat first on what seemed to be a good looking surface with a lightning fast outfield.

Some wayward bowling began proceedings as Shapwick conceded 17 extras in just one over, but opener Joe Mason soon found his line as he cleaned up both openers Buchanan & Sherring to leave Minehead 20-2.

Dan Bowditch and Braden Taylor began the rebuild for Minehead, and both looked comfortable as they took the score on to 58 without further alarm. Taylor then mistimed his signature shot, the pull, to mid wicket for 21 as the ball stuck in the pitch and reared up on him.

With Gregg Howard out, Ellis Taylor began smashing the ball to the boundary, sending 4 consecutive balls to the fence through the leg side in the process. Taylor fell for a well made 43, but at the other end Bowditch made his second half-century of the season as the score passed 175. He fell soon after for an important 53.

A last-wicket stand of 38 of Oliver Groves and Harry Tudball enabled Minehead to finish on 229 all out.

Minehead knew a maximum bowling and fielding performance would be required to restrict their hosts to below 230, but on a wicket assisting the bowlers they felt they were in the game with that total on the board.

Harry Tudball and Brandon Rawle opened up for the Pirates, but were put to the sword early by the dangerous Tinnion. The Minehead fielders did not back up the bowlers in the early part of the second innings, as a number of chances went down - but both openers fell after Tinnion played one shot too many against Rawle, and change bowler Oliver Groves found the outside edge of Gilbert just 3 balls later, with Howard holding on behind the stumps.

However, ex-Somerset player Calum Haggett showed all his experience to steer the visitors to victory with a splendid 53 not out, looking absolutely faultless as Shapwick reached their target with three wickets to spare, having been 195-7.

Bowditch beat his edge three times in an over late in the day, but Haggett ultimately took his side over the line, with support from Shapwick’s best bowler Joe Mason who had earlier snapped up 4-21.

This was a painful defeat for The Pirates going so close to their elusive first win. They go again this weekend away at Frome, who sit just six points ahead of them in the table.