DARREN Sherring and Josh Hurley were the batting stars of Minehead’s four-wicket away victory over Wedmore in the Premier Division of the Somerset Cricket League.

Victory enabled Minehead to move up to fifth in the table and to keep in touch with the leaders Frome, with Bridgwater 3rd XI lying second and Chard third.

Chasing 288 to win at Wedmore, Sherring (98 not out) and Hurley (84 not out) came together with Minehead at a precarious 150-6 and featured in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 140. Sherring was in particularly hard-hitting form, striking seven fours and nine sixes, his runs coming off only 43 balls. Hurley struck 12 fours.

Earlier in the innings, Minehead had slumped to 25-2 before Ellis Taylor and Hurley shared in a third-wicket partnership of 71 runs before Taylor was bowled by Sam Tucker. Chris James added 26 useful runs before Sherring and Hurley came to the rescue with the winning runs coming up in the 40th over. Tucker was the pick of Wedmore’s bowling attack with 3-45 in nine overs, while Martyn Boley took 2-40 and Josh Luedicke 1-65.

Wedmore, who won the toss and elected to bat first, scored 287-9 in their 45 overs with openers Luke Stokes (65) and Jack Masters (27) giving the home side a good start with a stand of 76. Tucker proved Wedmore’s Man of the Match, knocking a run-a-ball 80 with six fours and seven sixes. Billy Halford scored 30 facing only 16 balls, while Ben Evans hit 20 and Jack Tonkin 19. Wedmore lost their last four wickets for the addition of only 21 runs.

Skipper Dan Bowditch led the bowling attack with figures of 4-65 from nine overs, while Sherring took 2-32, also off nine, Oliver Groves 1-39, Harry Tudball 1-40 and Jack Richards 1-56.

Elsewhere, Frome suffered only their second loss of the season when they went down by 22 runs to second from bottom Taunton St Andrews 2nd X1 who, batting first, were bowled out for 191 before dismissing their rivals for 169.

Chard were the only side to top 300 runs after gaining a 69-run success against North Petherton. Chard scored 311-6 with Liam Cleal top scoring with 72 off only 63 balls while Jonathon Legg made 56 and then restricted Petherton to 242-8.

In the only other match in the division, Taunton Deane 2nd XI gained a 24-run victory over Castle Cary.

Meanwhile, Minehead will be looking for back to back wins when they play at home to Chard on Saturday, July 19.

The seasiders will be seeking to avenge a 48-run loss to the South Somerset side in the middle of May. Chard scored 242-7 and then bowled out Minehead for 194 with none of their batters able to dominate the home side's bowling attack.

Minehead 2nd XI will be hoping to follow up last weekend's win over second-placed South Petherton when they play their Chard counterparts at home in Division Three of the Somerset League.

Minehead are lying fourth in the table while Chard are down in eighth spot, having won only one of their nine games.

Minehead 3rd XI, fifth in Division Three of the West Somerset League, are away to Carhampton who are one off the bottom.

There is a full programme of matches in the Taunton & District Youth League on Friday, July 18, and Sunday, July 20.