1XI vs Weston

Taunton Deane 1st XI continued their unbeaten run this season with an emphatic 238 run victory over Weston-Super-Mare.

Losing the toss, the Deane were asked to bat first in cloudy and humid conditions. Openers Jack Fraser and Sam Underdown made steady progress with the score reaching 30 before Underdown was well caught at mid wicket.

Fraser was joined by Somerset’s Jack Leach, with both batsmen intent on building a partnership. However, Fraser was caught behind for 27 and the game was evenly poised with the score at 2-53.

What followed was a tale of all batsmen getting starts and looking comfortable, without anyone going on and making a big score. Harry Thomas(25), Sam Shaikh(21), Ali Warren(26) and Keith Ford(27) all made good contributions. Jack Leach(72) was the mainstay of the innings, before being unluckily run out when he looked certain to go on and score a hundred. Further momentum was gained from an excellent 51 off 30 balls from Russell Jones, but 2 quick wickets at the end saw the Deane dismissed for 292 in the 50th over.

The Weston innings could not have got off to a worse start, with an unplayable ball from opening bowler Ed Mellor, and an unbelievable run out from Ali Warren which saw Weston 2 down at the end of the second over.

With Mellor bowling well, his opening bowling partner Matt Derham started to get the ball to swing. What followed was an incredible procession of wicket, which came as a result of excellent bowling and great catching. Both bowlers were relentless as Weston were bowled out for 54 in just 17. Derham picked up his first 5 wicket haul for the 1st XI and finished with the outstanding figures of 5-22.