MINEHEAD First XI were at home to North Petherton in the Premier Division of the Somerset Cricket League last Saturday - and suffered a disappointing 21-run loss.

Home skipper Dan Bowditch won the toss and after asking North Petherton to bat first his decision looked to be the right one when, with the total on 8, opener Tom Williams was caught by ‘keeper Andy Stevens off the bowling of Alfie Rucklidge for 6. The other opener Liam Winter was then joined by Jack Pike and between them the second wicket pairing took the total onto 77 when Winter was bowled by Darren Sherring for 47.

One run later there was a further reward for the Minehead attack when Bowditch accounted for new batter Cameron Lewis - caught by Chris James.

Jack Pike and Petherton skipper Dan Lambert added 60 runs but with the scoreboard showing 138 Lambert was out caught by James off the bowling of Elis Taylor for 35.

Pike was joined by Carl Clemenson who took the visitors onto 191 when Pike was bowled by Conor Paterson for 58, which came off 92 balls and included seven 4s.

Clemenson then took charge and his hard hitting innings of 71 not out off just 38 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes saw Petherton post 261 for 6 from their 45 overs.

Bowditch was the most economic of the Minehead bowlers, ending with 1 for 26 from his 9 overs which included 3 maidens.

When the home side replied openers Ian Buchanan and Freddie Wilson saw the total to 22 when both were dismissed in quick succession. Buchanan was caught by Lewis off the bowling of Tom Lambert for 14 and one run later the same bowler accounted for Wilson for 5.

Captain Bowditch then walked out to the wicket to join Josh Hurley and after steadying the situation started to build a base from which to launch the run chase. Both looked in good form and their partnership was worth 79 when Hurley was bowled by Pike for 25, which made the home side 102 for 3.

Bowditch remained steadfast at the wicket and along with Stevens added 29 for the fourth wicket when the latter was caught by Knight off Pike for 10.

The skipper saw the Minehead score onto 152 when he was out stumped by Dan Lambert off Pike for a well crafted 70 runs which came off 83 balls and included 9 fours and one 6.

Minehead kept up the momentum and Taylor and James shared a partnership of 34 for the sixth wicket before Taylor was caught by Winter off Pike for 10. New batter Darren Sherring came and went without scoring which saw the scoreboard showing 186 for 7,

All the while James was at the crease Minehead maintained their run chase and along with Rucklidge he added 26 for the eighth wicket before he was bowled by Tom Lamber for a better than a run a ball 43.

Rucklidge and Harry Tudball kept up the momentum and shared a last wicket stand of 20 to see Minehead on to 240 when the latter was caught and bowled by Tom Lambert for 12, leaving Rucklidge not out 12, giving the visitors victory by 21 runs.

For the visitors Pike ended with 5-42 off nine while Lambert finished with 4-37 off 8.3 overs.