1XI vs Shapwick & Polden

A good all round team performance saw Taunton Deane start their season with a victory over visiting Shapwick and Polden.

After winning the toss, the Deane decided to bowl first on what looked to be a fairly flat wicket. Shapwick openers Tinnion and Edmunds got off to a quick start before some sharp work in the field led to the run out of the dangerous Tinnion.

Young pace bowler Ed Mellor picked up a wicket on debut soon after which saw Shapwick 2-59 in the 10th over.

This saw Ben Ackland join Edmunds, and the pair batted well without getting away from the Deane bowlers. Fraser, Squire and Saxby bowled well through the middle overs, which proved vital to keeping the score in check. Edmunds and Ackland added 140 for the 3rd wicket, before Edmunds was dismissed for an excellent 100.

Ackland soon followed for a very well compiled 71, and disciplined bowling and fielding combined with regular wickets saw Shapwick and Poulden restricted to 8-255 from their 50 overs.

The Deane response got off to a great start with openers Sam Loud(32) and Jack Fraser(57) scoring freely and putting the Shapwick bowlers under pressure. The pair put on 98 before Loud fell to an outstanding catch in the deep.

Fraser soon followed for 57, which saw Sam Shaikh and Harry Thomas together at a crucial time. The introduction of spin saw the scoring rate slow, and Shapwick started to claw their way back into the game. Ben Rudge(2-28) in particular bowled well and the Deane innings threatened to lose momentum. However, Shaikh(20) and Thomas(43) counter attacked to shift momentum again, allowing the remaining Deane batsmen Henry Mellor(28), Ali Warren(18no) and Phil Saxby(22no) to chase the total down with 2 overs remaining.