Deane all-rounders in a fantasy league of their own (almost!)

After winning the toss for the second week in a row, home skipper Sam Shaikh had no hesitation in batting first on a fresh Deane wicket. When the home side fell to 10-1, 34-2 and then 54-3 that decision may have looked a tad injudicious. Sam Loud (7) was the first to go LBW to Aaron Blake (2-32) before Tenny Harlow (10) nicked behind and Harry Thomas (10) gave Blake his second wicket caught at cover.

Opener Grant Davey, watching from the other end, was more steadfast in defence and a partnership of 41 between him and Harrison helped move the Deane to 95 before he was caught at deep square leg looking to pull for 41. Still not yet at drinks, the Deane were soon in trouble again as number 6 Harry Smith fell for a three ball duck caught at cover off George Ford (2-41) and then Luke Williams (2) was dismissed 14 runs later off the same bowler.

Drinks were eventually taken with the Deane 105-6, number 8 Sam Shaikh joined Harrison and they added 80 precious runs for the 7th wicket to drag the home side to 189-7 to claim 3 batting points before Harrison scooped James Williams to Ben Slade at cover who took an excellent one-hand overhead catch.

Will Hardwick joined Shaikh to move the Deane onto a 4th batting point, but with the score on 200, Sam Shaikh (33) was bowled by a George Ford slower ball. Hardwick and Matt Derham added 8 for the ninth wicket, before Jason Squire was the last man out for 7 as the Deane finished on 217 all out one ball shy of their 50 overs.

The Winterbourne reply got off to watchful and steady start against the accuracy of Jason Squire from the Golf Course end, whilst Harry Smith was somewhat erratic from the Vivary Park end. The introduction of Matt Derham to replace Smith paid immediate dividends as from 32 without loss, Winterbourne subsided to 42-3 as Derham removed the top three within his first 4 overs.

Ben Parker (8) was first to go caught behind, before Winterbourne captain Sam Bracey (1) squirted a full ball to Tenny Harlow who took a good catch at point. Callum Brown (13) then followed as Derham breached his defences to send the ball clattering into the stumps. Number Kingsbury looked like he might settle the Winterbourne chase as he added 30 with Ben Slade, but then Derham once again found the edge of the bat and Shaikh snaffled his second catch behind the stumps to leave the visitors 72-4.

At the other end, there was no let up for the away side as Calvin Harrison bowled expertly with excellent control and variation to tighten the Deane hold on the game. The pressure soon told again as Harrison had Darren Vickery (4) plumb LBW from a googly and then a stumping from Sam Shaikh accounted for Harry Blackwell for a patient 30.

Ben Slade (36) continued to watch from the other end as Harrison and Derham wreaked havoc and he always posed to keep Winterbourne in the hunt. However, when he was bowled by the excellent Will Hardwick (1-30) and George Ford (30) lofted Luke Williams into the hands of Harry Thomas the visitors required a further 71 runs at near enough 10 an over.

Matt Derham returned to bowl James Williams and claim a much deserved five wicket haul before Harry Smith drew Dylan Caddy into skying a catch to deep wicket where the waiting Harrison rounded off an excellent all-round performance to take the winning catch.

The Deane took 19 points from the 54 run victory to leapfrog their opponents into second place in the Premier 2 table, just 2 points behind the only other unbeaten side North Perrott.

Next weekend, the Deane are on the road away at Ashcott and Shapwick, the Deane will be wary of a dangerous team yet to register their first win this season.