MINEHEAD’S dream of winning the Baker Cup T20 Knock Out Cricket Competition at the first attempt came to an end when they were beaten by WEPL Premier One side Taunton St Andrews at the Wyvern Club on Monday evening.

Despite their hosts playing several leagues above them the Pirates put up a brave fight and gave the Saints a fright towards the end of a tie which was played in a good spirit and watched by a large crowd, including a number who had travelled from West Somerset.

Saint Andrews won the toss and after opting to bat first posted 168 for eight of which Jay Terry scored 100 before being dismissed in the final over. Pick of the bowlers was Alfie Ruckledge with four for 28.

When Minehead replied their openers Dan Bowditch and Ian Buchanan got the visitors off to a flying start and after two overs had taken the score onto 26.

Bowditch was seeing the ball well and in the fifth over hit the first six of the innings. However in the next over with the score on 41 he came down the wicket and was stumped for 29 off Jago Barclay. Buchanan helped the total onto 59 before he was out for 13 in the eighth over.

Over the course of the next two overs wickets tumbled and at the halfway stage the score was 72 for five. Wickets kept falling as the Minehead batters seemed unable to get going and at 116 for nine after 17 overs the game looked over.

However last batter Ananthan Rajan had other ideas and started to hit some lusty blows, taking the score to 140 with six balls remaining.

Despite Rajan taking his score onto 29 including three 6s Minehead ended on 158 for nine, just 10 runs short of their target.