Defeat by Thorns costs Bear Flat 1sts top spot, 2nds lose again

Round-up of Bear Flat Cricket Club’s matches – Saturday 1st August.

Bear Flat 1st XI surrendered the Somerset League Division Four leadership when they were beaten at Glastonbury 1st XI on Saturday 1st August

Bear Flat 1st XI lost top spot in Somerset League Division Four when they were beaten by Glastonbury 1st XI on Saturday 1st August.

The Bears went into the game at Tor Sports & Leisure holding a 13-point lead at the summit.

But the Thorns emerged 22-run winners. And that combined with a seven-wicket victory for Trull 1st XI at North Perrott 2nd XI means the Taunton side have moved into pole position, five points clear of Bear Flat with four rounds of matches remaining.

Former West of England Premier League team Glastonbury posted 243-7 in their 40 overs after electing to bat, opener Chris Dunn top-scoring with 62.

Skipper and number eight Kieran Thick made an undefeated 53 but the third-biggest contribution came from extras (39).

Matt Tomes-Smith (2-34 in eight overs) and Alby Jackman (2-38 from eight overs) were the Bears’ most profitable bowlers. But Tony de Oliveira was the most miserly, his eight overs earning him 1-23.

The guests also had an opener in form, James Ebdon hitting 79.

But number seven Mark Gunning (55 not out) and number eight Tomes-Smith (35 not out) were the only other batters to score more than 15.

Bear Flat benefited from 20 extras but closed on 221-6 off 40 overs, Gihan Mallawaarachchi and Thick bagging two wickets apiece for the Mid Somerset men.

Bear Flat 2nd XI suffered their ninth defeat of the Somerset League Division Six North campaign when they went down by eight wickets at Middlezoy 2nd XI on 1st August.

The Bears, who have lost more games than anyone else in the division, are in seventh spot, one place above second-bottom Zoy.

Having chosen to bat, the visitors were dismissed for 171 in 35.3 overs, opener Iain Locke leading the way with 56 off 92 balls.

Archie Ellis, batting at number six, was also a half-centurion, but his 54 came off only 53 deliveries.

Locke and Ellis put on 103 for the fifth wicket, coming together with the Bears reeling at 35-4.

Jordan Meaker pocketed 4-14 in 3.3 overs for the Sedgemoor team. Jim Melmoth snaffled 3-17 from six overs.

Middlezoy opener Sam Stoker carried his bat for 66 not out and shared a second-wicket stand with Frank Burke (47) that yielded 80 runs, the hosts easing to 172-2 in 33.3 overs.

Xavier Taylor-Mrabet and Richard Bahadoor took the wickets.

Forthcoming fixture:

Saturday 8th August:

Somerset League:

Division Four: Bear Flat 1st XI v Kilmington & Stourton 1st XI (at The Glasshouse Playing Fields, 1pm).