MINEHEAD continued with their winning ways as they clocked up their fourth consecutive win.

Having lost both openers with the score on 35, Ashcott and Shapwick's middle order Aussie Paul Jenner (42) and Danny Rudge (43) scored freely and brought the hundred up in just 23 overs.

The visitors were looking food for a large total but Ross Hartgen removed both of them within the next three overs and reduced them to 112-4 as he finished his 15 overs with 4-76.

Then it was left to Indian spinner Dinesh Kumar (4-26) and veteran Dave Hurley (2-9) to remove the last six six wickets as Ashcott and Shapwick could only manage a further 40 runs to be dismissed in the 39th over for 153.

With 50 overs to reach this modest total (just three runs an over) Minehead felt confident at tea. However, Minehead soon lost two wickets for just 16 with some fine bowling from the Ridge brothers Danny and Will.

But then Peter Blyth (62 no) and Geoff Murrell (72 no) then put together an unbroken partnership of 139 to see Minehead home by eight wickets in just 37 overs, although both batsmen gave a chance early on.

One of the main differences in the teams was that Minehead's keeper Adam Jones caught the first three batsmen whereas Ashcott and Shapwick's keeper couldn't hold on to the three chances Minehead's batsmen gave him.

With two-thirds of the season completed Minehead have their hopes of promotion well within their sights.

Ashcott and Shapwick: 153 (P Jenner 42, D Rudge 43, D Kumar 4-26, R Hartgen 4-76, D Hurley 2-9).

Minehead: 155-2 (G Murrell 72 no, P Blyth 62 no).

Points: Minehead 25 Ashcott and Shapwick 5.