BRDGETOWN gained a five-wicket victory over bottom side Winsford in Division One of the West Somerset League.

Winsford openers H Dunn and B Crane were both dismissed for ducks as Bridgetown bowlers Chris Wookey and Tom Gliddon started proceedings with wicket maidens, and when J Bingham joined them back in the hutch, Winsford were tottering at 16/3 in the fifth over. Chris Turner and R Dean then steadied the ship in contrasting styles, putting a partnership of 75 together .

The balance shifted back towards Bridgetown as Dean fell to an excellent catch on the boundary by Max Briggs in Gliddon’s last over for an aggressive 43, followed shortly after by Turner trapped lbw by James McDermott, with Winsford 93/5 after 18 overs. Dan Cross picked up the wickets of Ben Harding and Edward How cheaply and at 102/7 a below par score looked on the cards.

Veterans Andrew Blackmore and James How then put on 66 crucial runs, Blackmore striking three huge sixes in his score of 38. When he fell to Theo Sizer, another good outfield catch by Charlie Gliddon, Chris Wookey blew away the tail and Winsford were all out for 172. Bridgetown found the going tough in the face of accuracy from Blackmore and Dunn, as Ken Cross fell lbw to Blackmore for a duck. Dan Sizer and Fred Stevens put together a half century partnership but both fell in quick succession to leave the match evenly poised on 65/3 after 17 overs. Ben Luxton and Wookey found the going slightly easier.

When Luxton fell for 32, caught behind off Turner, Charlie Gliddon and then Max Briggs gave Wookey support as the total was reached with five wickets down with two overs to spare, Winsford putting up a spirited performance which belied their lowly position in the division.