2nd XI continue their struggles away from home!

The Deane failed to bounce back from the previous weekend's defeat, with a four-wicket loss away to Wembdon 1st XI on Saturday.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first; Wembdon were not consistent enough with the ball in the early exchanges, and Deane's openers made them pay. Nick Phillips (13) and Ali Warren (16), aided by extras, took Deane to 41, at which point Brendan Pope got the breakthrough by trapping Warren LBW.

The second wicket fell much quicker, with the score still on 41 James Annison accounted for Phillips with a sharp catch taken at backward point. Deane then had a period of consolidation where Sam Burgess capitalised on a handful of short deliveries to strike four consecutive boundaries.

Wembdon introduced the Max Sellick (2-24) and overseas off-spinner Nkululeko Serame (2-23) into the attack. Both bowlers bowled very economically throughout their 10 over spells, and Sellick had an immediate impact taking the wicket of Burgess (20).

The hosts began to restrict Deane now, and as the pressure mounted wickets fell at regular intervals. A mix-up occurred in the running and a sharp run out from Tom Lott removed Russell Jones (12). With the skipper gone at 101-5, Serame had Dave Jones caught, Sellick bowled Stone and the Deane's positive start began to unravel. The tail was wrapped up with three wickets falling in just two overs, going for just two runs.
Deane losing their final five wickets for just 34 runs represented an excellent fightback from Wembdon.

In reply, Dan Bingham went early, with a fine edge through to the Dave Jones off the bowling of Josh Thomas (1-24). However, Lott and Serame were not phased by the early loss and quickly added 20 from three overs. The off spin of Sam Burgess (1-39) then enticed Serame into a big shot which found the mid-off fielder Harrison Hambly to leave Wembdon 40-2.

Lott was going well though, and joined by Jonathan Brockwell kept the scoreboard moving at a good pace. Lott found the boundary with ease, but then mis-timed one and fell to a good catch by Dan Parson off the bowling of the returning Tom Burgess (3-41) for 45.

Brockwell and Pigden were now at the crease for the home side and again kept the score moving. Wembdon were one short of their century when Brockwell (22) went looking for the boundary once more, only to find mid-on similar in an almost identical dismissal to Lott - caught Parsons bowled T.Burgess.

Deane rotated their bowlers including Jonathan Lewis-Oliver (0-29) who bowled tightly but struggled to trouble the Wembdon middle order as Pigden made his way to 33 and Wembdon were in sight of victory. Pigden then received a full toss which the umpire deemed legal as he was caught in the deep by Lewis-Oliver off the bowling of T.Burgess for his third wicket.

His partner Jack Lowe was soon run out and Wembdon were stumbling on 127-6. The incoming Mike Watts wasn't going to hang around, though, and immediately struck two fours and a six to bring up the Wembdon victory with 22 overs remaining.

The result see's Deane slip to fifth, behind Wembdon. The Deane look to continue their home form as they host 2nd placed Bridgwater 2nd XI at The Convent Field on Saturday.