CUTCOMBE were involved in a high scoring game against their visitors from Lydeard St Lawrence on Saturday afternoon in Division Two of the West Somerset Cricket League - at the end of which they ran out winners by 78 runs.

After the hosts were invited to bat first Ollie Reading claimed two early wickets for Lydeard St Lawrence, dismissing both James Davis and Ned Binding before Max Hannaford accounted for Mark Matravers for 29 which saw Cutcombe 49 for 3.

A fourth wicket partnership of 43 was broken when Matt Reading bowled Lennon Howe for 13, which brought young Harry Pursey to the crease to join ‘keeper James Gregory who at the time was unbeaten on 26.

Between them the fifth wicket pairing firstly saw the three figures onto the board before building a partnership that was the tuning point in the match.

The fifth wicket duo added 172 to take the total onto 264 when Ollie Reading bowled James Gregory for 134, which he scored off 69 balls and which included 12 fours and 11 sixes- some innings!

Without addition to the total Harry Pursey was out bowled by Matt Reading for 52 off 41 deliveries with 6 fours and 3 sixes - his maiden half century for the club. Lower down the order Elliott Binding made an unbeaten 42 as Cutcombe finished on 346 for 9. For the visitors Matthew Reading claimed 4 for 49 while Ollie Reading took 3 for 47.

In reply Lydeard St Lawrence were bowled out for 268 in 38 overs, Mark Hannaford making 85 off 61 balls with 14 fours and 2 sixes while skipper Tom Westcott made 93 off 55 with 10 fours and 5 sixes, the pair adding 96 together for the fifth wicket, after which Tom Bennett made 41.

There were two wickets each for James Davis, Ben Gregory and Mark Matravers.