A STRONG Bridgetown side entertained last season’s champions Kilve and eventually ran out winners in a match which produced plenty of runs.

Kilve won the toss, inviting Bridgetown to bat first on a pitch which was dry and firm after the recent dry spell. After a few loose balls were sent down early which opener Ken Cross flayed to the boundary, Kilve’s opening bowlers J Taylor and T Shervurn exerted some control, Taylor dismissing Cross and limiting the score to 24-1 after 10 overs.

Matt Richards joined Dan Sizer for a 50 run partnership at a run a ball, and after Sizer was lbw to T Smith, Freddie Wilson and Richards put on another half century partnership in just 6 overs. Richards was caught behind to become Smith’s second victim, and at 124-3 in the 23rd over, the match was evenly poised.

Skipper Ben Luxton gave Wilson good support in another 50 run partnership, but a cluster of wickets taken by Tom Wilcox reduced Bridgetown from 180-3 to 201-8 in the 37th over. 

All rounder Chris Wookey then stepped up to smash a handy 47*, to lift the final tally to 237-8, a good score against some decent bowling, particularly Wilcox, who took 5-15 in just 3 overs.

In reply, Kilve’s innings got off to a disastrous start, Bridgetown’s opening bowlers Wookey and Tom Gliddon knocking over the top three with just 4 runs on the board. Wilcox and skipper Clemenson steadied the ship with a 59 run partnership, but when Clemenson fell to a fine catch on the boundary by Matt Richards off the last ball of Gliddon’s spell, Kilve looked out of it at 63-4 after 17 overs. Simon Costello then dismissed Taylor and Shervurn to reduce Kilve to 85-6 at 23 overs.

With the result looking beyond doubt, Keeper B Gannon then joined Wilcox and nearly turned the match on its head with a quick fire 82 run partnership. With 7 overs to go, the score was 161-6, and the asking rate of 11 an over within the scope of the two well set batsmen. 

Henry Bond induced a false stroke from Gannon for Richards to take another fine catch in the outfield, and although Smith gave further support to Wilcox, Costello claimed Wilcox for a fine 71, as his third wicket, to put the match out of Kilve’s reach, their final score 208-9 at the end of the 40 overs. Bridgetown 237-8 (M Richards 55, F Wilson 55, C Wookey 47*, T Wilcox 5-15, T Smith 2-54) beat Kilve  208-9 (T Wilcox 71, B Gannon 46, C Clemenson 43, S Costello 3-36, T Gliddon 2-29, C Wookey 2-46) by 29 runs.