MINEHEAD'S cricket season finally got underway last Saturday with a visit to Taunton for a 45-over friendly at Gipsy Lane.

Skipper Ian Buchanan won the toss and chose to bat first and he and Andrew Stevens got Minehead off to a steady start. On a traditionally rock hard and flat Taunton Vale wicket, the runs began to flow as both batters found the boundary regularly. The score had reached 82 when Stevens was the first to go for a well constructed 35, caught at cover from the off spin of Will Begy.

Ellis Taylor joined Buchanan at the crease before the latter retired when reaching 50. At this point the innings was reduced to 30 overs per side due to a Taunton player requiring some medical treatment. Thankfully, the player was OK and the game was able to continue. The Taunton bowlers fought back strongly after the break, as Taylor was stumped for 10, while Dan Bowditch was bowled for 0.

The remaining batters struggled against some quality bowling from Taunton’s youngsters, as Archie Marsh and debutant Jakcob Schrader were both caught for 11 and 3 respectively, before Rob Spiers was bowled first ball. Ollie Groves survived the hat-trick ball, as he and Steve Archer formed a 25 run partnership in the closing overs which gave Minehead a respectable 145-8 from their allotted 30 overs. Groves struck 13 and Archer 7.

Minehead knew the result wasn’t the priority in a pre-season fixture, with the aim to get overs under the belt of all bowlers in the side. However, thanks to a big opening spell from Harry Tudball, he gave the Pirates every chance of defending the low total. Tudball started with a maiden, then bowled Simon Manley in his next over with a peach of a delivery taking the top of off stump. He was supported by 15 year old Ollie Groves who was unlucky not to take a wicket after beating the bat regularly.

Tudball picked up a second as Damon Lee skied to Buchanan at cover after striking some early boundaries for TCC. Tudball set the tone as he conceded just 12 runs from his six overs as Ellis Taylor took over and struck immediately, clean bowling three batters in consecutive overs - picking up impressive figures of 3-11 from 4 overs. Rob Spiers bowled a tight spell from the other end, and picked up a wicket with his final ball, finishing with 1-14 from five overs.

Taunton were in big trouble at 52-6, but some lusty blows from the impressive Will Begy gave them hope as nine runs per over were required from the final 10. James Davis came into the attack, and sent the off stump cartwheeling in his first over. Begy was still there though and he was scoring two-three boundaries per over, until Minehead’s off spinning maestro Dan Bowditch deceived him in the flight and was well stumped by Stevens. Bowditch wasted no time in finishing off the Taunton innings, as Kerslake was also stumped by the same combination, and the game concluded with Bowditch finding the stumps with a direct hit run out of the Taunton skipper Matt Phillips, as TCC fell 53 runs short.

Minehead: Buchanan 50*, Stevens 35; Taylor 3-11, Bowditch 2-12, Tudball 2-12.

Minehead’s league season kicks off on Saturday as the 1st XI play away at Taunton Deane, the 2nd XI host Yeovil CC, and the 3rd XI have a two week break before joining the action.