FACED with a well grassed pitch Bridgetown’s skipper Ben Luxton inserted East Huntspill, and the early wicket of opener Hodge, caught in the gully off an outside edge seemed to vindicate this decision.

However, some positive strokeplay from Chisholm and Chedzey coupled with a lightning fast outfield ensured every shot that passed the fielder raced to the boundary.

When  Wookey dismissed Chedzey with the score on 48 in just the sixth over, a mammoth score looked on the cards.

At ten overs Huntspill were 79-2, and a double bowling change brought Dan Cross and Dan Sizer into the attack, slowing the scoring rate  and resulting in Verk chipping to Tom Gliddon at midwicket off Sizer, and Theo Sizer running out the dangerous Chisholm with a superb direct hit from 40 yards with just one stump to aim at, Bridgetown on top with the score 104-4 in the 17th over. 

Pomeroy smashed a belligerent 43 in a 49 run partnership in just six overs, before holing out in the deep, but the initiative had been regained, the score 153-5 in the 23rd over.

Cross removed Beattie chipping to cover, and Tom Gliddon returned to the attack to snare two wickets as Huntspill slipped to 180-8 in the 31st over, Bridgetown back on top again.

Skipper Edwards continued to marry watchful defence with judicious shots and in partnerships with Glew and Flagg carried the home team to a handy 234 all out.

At the start of Bridgetown’s reply, Huntspill’s bowlers Stamp and Glew bowled better length than Bridgetown’s opening bowlers had managed, resulting in a slower scoring rate, and at 10 overs the score was 36 for the loss of Ken Cross. Change bowler Beattie removed Sizer in the 13 th over, with the score on 49. Pete Matravers and Luxton took the score to 81, but Matravers fell just before drinks to Pomeroy, caught by Edwards for 29.

When Luxton fell for 24 in the 27th over, the score was 117-4, and the required rate had crept up to 10 an over. Charlie Gliddon, returning to the team after more than three years out injured, took the attack to Huntspill, but Wookey fell for 28 to leave Bridgetown 141-5 in the 31st over and looking into the abyss.

The match continued to entertain as the lower order did their best to give Gliddon the support he needed as he smashed 74* from just 44 balls, but ultimately his heroics were in vain as Bridgetown finished 5 runs short with just one wicket remaining. East Huntspill 234 (P Chisholm 55, R Pomeroy 43, M Edwards 31, T Gliddon 3-44, D Sizer 3-60, C Wookey 2-66) bt Bridgetown 229-9 (C Gliddon 74*, A Chedzey 2-29, K Stamp 2-47, L Glew 2-51)