2nds Home to Bridgwater at Taunton School

Playing at Taunton School the Deane 2nd's hosted title contenders Bridgwater hoping to overturn the thrashing they received in the reverse fixture. At that time the 2nds were on a losing run now winning has become a habit and we are now hard to beat.

A on a pitch that appeared a batters paradise Captain Sam Burgess won the toss and batted first.
After losing last weeks centurion Sam Loud caught behind of a beauty from Ian Higgins 8.3-2-24-3 early Henry Mellor and Jack Fraser set about building a platform for the innings before Fraser (21) fell chipping a catch to mid wicket. Ben Thomas then joined Mellor at the crease both playing well until both fell in quick succession, Mellor a little unluckily for 48 and Thomas for 26. A mini collapse followed as Ed Mellor (3) and Sam Burgess (0) quickly followed leaving the old man of the side Jason Squire joining Matt Derham at the crease.
A steady risk free partnership against a pitch now taking a lot of turn and movement moved the score onto 165 before Squire fell for 20 miss hitting a shot to deep mid on. With Matt Derham following shortly after for 32 the Deane innings subsided 181 all out.

Bridgwater started well helped by an over to forget for Joel Larkman. He would come back and make amends later in the game. With Jason Squire replacing Larkman at the railway end and Matt Derham at the school end both bowlers showed what bowling in partnerships is all about. Both bowling giving nothing away and the Bridgwater batsmen not knowing where the next run was coming from. Squire 6-2-17-3 on this occasion got the breakthroughs dismissing the top 3 batsman pushing Bridgwater well behind in the game. Derham 7-3-20-0 finishing his fine spell wicketless but can feel very proud of his efforts.

With Squire replaced by Jack Fraser 9-1-30-0 and Derham by the returning Larkman 7-2-28-1 switching ends the pressure on the Bridgwater batsmen continued. The introduction of the returning Dom Macfarlane 9-1-22-3 from first team duties and Charlie Norman 4.4-0-18-3 saw Bridgwater steadily collapse to 140.

A top effort from a team that was in the relegation zone 6 games ago.

Very impressed by the bowling in partnership from this young team Squire apart.

This young team really are now fullfilling the potential they have showed over the last 2 seasons.

We welcome top of the table Bath to the Deane this Saturday fancying our chances to overcome another early season thrashing.