MINEHEAD Second XI travelled to Curry Rivel on Saturday afternoon to play against highflyers Taunton Indian in Division Three of the Somerset Cricket League - and just missed out on winning the game.

After the home side won the toss and chose to bat, Braden Taylor made an early breakthrough. However Samju Mohana, with 64 which included eight 4s and a six, and Santa Koonampacal came together and shared what turned out to be a match winning partnership before Rob Spiers had the former caught by Gary Bennett for 64 which included eight 4s and a six.

Spiers picked up two further wickets but Koonampacal remained unbeaten on 71 which included 11 fours as Taunton Indian posted 198 for five from their 40 overs. Spiers ended with three for 27 from his nine overs.

When Minehead replied they lost Jonah Hopkins for nine and Charlie Payne for 12 before Taylor and Bennett started to rebuild the innings. Bennett was eventually out for 31 which included six 4s while Taylor went onto score 62 with 10 fours.

Spiers, who ended unbeaten on 8, and Jack White, who was 18 not out, shared an unbroken last wicket partnership, but the visitors ended on 188 for nine from their allotted overs, 11 runs short of their winning target.

It was Taunton Indian’s 12th victory in 14 matches and they have a 34-point lead at the top of the table over second-placed Cheddar, both sides having played the same number of games - and with two remaining fixtures.

Cheddar kept in touch with the leaders after beating Spaxton at home by four wickets. Spaxton batted first and scored 231-8 in their 40 overs with Scott Bellinger hitting 69 and Tim Hill 44 while Jimmy Clark took 3-41. Opener Scott Harris knocked 94 and Clark 41 as Cheddar chalked up their tenth win of the summer.