Ben Wells smashed a magnificent century as Bath Cricket Club got the better of struggling hosts Taunton St Andews on Saturday 19th July in West of England Premier League Premier One.
Ben Wells hit eight sixes and 14 fours as Bath overcame Taunton St Andrews on Saturday 19th July
Bath triumphed by 39 runs against the basement boys at The Wyvern Club to climb into third place in the table.
The visitors opted to bat in the county town and racked up 253-7 from their 50 overs.
But they suffered an early setback, losing opener Jack Scrivens (4) with only nine runs on the board.
Kester Moseley arrived to partner Scrivens’ fellow opener Wells and the duo put on 104 for the second wicket in 16 overs. Wells was certainly the junior partner, making 15 before he was second out.
Wickets then fell at regular intervals, and only number eight Will Hope (34 not out) and extras (25) joined Wells in contributing more than 16.
Wells was seventh out, his exit with the score at 198, when he was caught by Rufus William-Pritchard off Ollie Heard. Wells faced 126 balls and slammed eight sixes and cracked 14 boundaries.
Heard finished with 2-43 from nine overs. But the most economic of the St Andrews bowlers was Joe Wadham, who claimed 2-26 in 10 overs.
The Saints were in trouble at 10-2 in response, openers Louis Kraucamp and Jay Terry failing to get off the mark.
But any hopes Bath had of whistling through the home card were dashed by third-wicket pair Gabe Gallman-Findley and Ben Mason, who shared a stand worth 125.
They were separated when Mason was caught and bowled by Louis Brown for 59 off 88 balls, the knock including a six and seven fours.
Former Scotland under-19 player Gallman-Findley was removed 18 runs later, caught by Scrivens off Spencer Gammon for 77. His innings, which featured 10 boundaries, spanned 103 deliveries.
That wicket left St Andrews 153-4 – and they plunged to 195-9, Jago Barclay (26 from 17 balls) and Williams-Pritchard (4 not out) showing belligerence at the end.
The home side were dismissed for 214 in 47.4 overs, Brown the pick of the attack with 3-31 off nine overs. James Arney also took three scalps, earning 3-37 from 10 overs.
Bath return to North Parade on Saturday 26th July for a league clash with second-placed Bedminster.
The Bristol side are 17 points ahead of Bath, who sit one point in front of fourth-placed Thornbury.
