Deane Rue Missed Chances as Allen and Davidson Make Deane Pay

Having lost the toss, the Deane boys were somewhat surprised to be inserted in batting friendly conditions on a glorious day at the Convent Field. With the Weston attack boasting former Somerset favourite Charl Willoughby and new boy Paul van Meekeren, the Deane innings started well enough with Ali Warren and Sam Loud putting on 47 for the first wicket.

With the accuracy and control of Willoughby from the Vivary Park End and the aggression of van Meekeren from the Golf Course End, Loud looked particularly organised against the Weston openers, combing abject defence with an array of cover drives and flicks to bring the Deane towards a half-century stand at the end of the powerplay.

Warren started more watchfully at the other end, expertly playing inside the line as the ball appeared to beat the bat on many occasions. After 8 overs Van Meekeren was replaced by Tom Chambers (1-21) from the Golf Course End, the change of bowling yielded a flurry of boundaries but also a wicket, as Warren, perhaps sensing the shackles had been released, attempted to loft a length delivery from Chambers into the hands of van Meekeren at mid-on.

The Deane soon found themselves 48-2 as number 3 Calvin Harrison fell LBW to the left arm spin of Ashley Allen for 1. Captain Harry Thomas joined Loud keen not to relinquish the hard work of Loud and Warren. However, the 3rd wicket partnership only added a further 13 runs before Loud was bowled by Allen for a well made 33. Drinks were taken a couple of overs later with the Deane 74-3 from 17 overs.

New man Sam Shaikh joined Thomas and the two left handers were in doubt as to the importance of their partnership. Weston were under no illusions about the state of play either and sensing a chance to drive home their advantage turned to van Meerkeren.

The change soon brought dividends as the pace and aggression of van Meekeren extracted extra bounce to find the glove of Thomas (13) who turned ruefully to see the ball nestle into the hands of the Weston keeper. Number 6 Luke Williams (10) started well with a brace of boundaries before Allen accounted him, caught at slip by another Somerset favourite Rob Turner to leave the Deane 95-5.

Teenager Harry Smith joined Shaikh and the youngster pulled no punches in taking the attack to the Weston bowlers, a string of boundaries from Smith pushed the Deane pass 100 in the 23rd over. The sixth wicket partnership looked well set pushing the Deane onto 126 before Shaikh was the next to go, bowled by Allen playing an untimely slog-sweep for 20.

That was about as good as it got for the Deane, as from 126-6, Smith (17) became another LBW victim for Allen as he finished with 5-34. After a few lusty blows from the tail, van Meekeren returned to bowl Redrup (16) and Pryke (12). Shabil Ahmed (1-31) who toiled away at the other end claimed the last wicket of Matt Derham as the Deane subsided to 163 all out in less than 40 overs.

The Deane batsmen guilty of making starts but not kicking on in forming partnerships to set a more imposing total in batting friendly conditions. However, knowing themselves how hard a run chase could be batting second, the Deane still had a chance to atone themselves with a disciplined and gutsy second half performance.

Rob Pryke and Harry Smith took the new ball for the Deane and after conceding 20 from a wayward first 4 overs the pair managed to settle into their work. Pryke (1-28) found the edge of opener Ahmed (9) to be caught at slip by Thomas to make it 23-1. The next 6 overs bore only a further 12 runs as Smith was replaced by the leg spin of Calvin Harrison who struck immediately with his second ball, pinning opener Press LBW for 12 as Weston ended their powerplay 32-2.

Harrison found good rhythm straight away and was rewarded with another wicket soon after, Ben Gully bowled for 15 as Weston stuttered to 56-3. With two new men at the crease, Deane captain Thomas turned to the off spin of Rana at the other end to tighten the grip on proceedings.

However, his first 3 overs leaked 23 runs and Thomas turned to the leg spin of Luke Williams. A counter attacking 15 from Weston number 5 Howson, threaten to move the game away from the Deane as he took full toll of a few looseners from Williams, a four then a six into the clubhouse pushed the score onto 85 before Calvin Harrison pouched an expertly taken catch diving to his right at cover to bring the wicket the Deane craved and see Weston 85-4.

Former Somerset wicket keeper Rob Turner entered, with Weston number 4 Davidson looking assured at the other end, captain Thomas looked to Rana to force another wicket. Rana and Harrison bowled tightly and the Deane fielders looked sharp and became more vocal as they sensed an important time in the game.

Their efforts were soon rewarded as Turner chipped another low catch to the diving Harrison at cover for a 10 ball duck. Weston were 97-5 and it was game on in the 23rd over.

Rana returned 1-10 from his second spell as the next 8 overs from him and Harrison yielded a miserly 20 runs. With no concern about runs and needing further wickets, Harrison bowled his 10 overs straight through to finish with 2-30. Seeing the difficulty in scoring against spin, Harry Thomas brought himself on and continued where Harrison had finished, conceding 6 runs from his 4 overs of off spin.

However, Weston number 4 Chris Davidson stood firm and he was happy to take his time and lead the Weston run chase. With a combination of boundaries and well taken singles he duly reached his fifty from 65 balls. He was now well supported at the other by Weston keeper John Davidson, as the 6th wicket partnership yielded 45 runs.

With Rana (1-34) finishing at the Vivary Park end and the game slowly drifting in Weston’s favour, Thomas turned to Liam Redrup in search of a breakthrough. His efforts were short lived however, as having been struck on the leg in the warm up, he collapsed unable to continue after 4 deliveries.

Matt Derham completed the remaining Redrup over without incident before in a stroke of luck rather than genius for the Deane. With a large crowd gathering, the sweet smell of cider drifting across the ground, Derham found the edge of Chris Davidson for 13, before bowling the hapless van Meekeren for a four-ball duck in his next over to leave Weston at 144-7 and still requiring another 19 runs to win.

Derham’s two wickets has cost 20 in his first two overs as Davidson looked to push Weston over the line with a flurry of boundaries and wides, however Derham persisted and despite a hard chance at slip going down and a dropped catch at midwicket, his third over brought the wicket the Deane wanted. The tiring Chris Davidson caught by Pryke running back at mid-on for an excellent 77. Derham’s third over had cost a further 9 runs to leave Weston 160-8.

With the shadows lengthening and crowd hushed by the unfolding drama, Ashely Allen was joined by Charl Willoughby with 3 runs required. Pryke replaced Derham (3-29) at the Vivary Park End as Deane sensed an improbable victory if they could perhaps get Willoughby on strike.

Allen, who had earlier claimed 5-34, was not to be denied and it was fitting that he should hit the winning runs as he dispatched Pryke through cover to allow Weston to claim an edgy victory much to the vociferous delight of the away team.

Weston won by 2 wickets win the 39th over to take 18 points from the game and the Deane 6 points as Weston open up a 10-point lead at the top of the table. The Deane slip back to third, 14 points behind the leaders and one point above Lansdown who have a game in hand.

Despite a gutsy and spirited second half performance, the Deane will be kicking themselves in not capitalising on a golden opportunity to make it three wins from three. They will be seeking to make amends next week as they travel to face second placed Keynsham who are sure to provide another good test for the young Deane side.