Goatacre beaten by Bridgwater in WEPL Premier One

After winning the toss and opting to bat first on their trip to Bridgwater on Saturday, a score of 327-8 would usually have been enough to set up a big win for Ed Wilkins’ side.

However, the visitors could not defend that total once they got their hands on the ball and fell to a two-wicket defeat in Somerset.

Captain Wilkins (59) and opening partner Joe Breet got the Goats off to a positive start, the latter top scoring with 90 off 71 balls.

A third member of the visitors’ top four reached a half-century as Benny Howell added 56, with Goatacre seemingly content to have set their hosts a daunting 328 to win at the conclusion of their 50 overs.

Although they did not start as brightly as the visitors with the bat, Bridgwater were well on the way to their target courtesy of fine knocks by Ian Chauhan (88) and Liam Kitch (43).

The Goats kept them in check with wickets at regular intervals, but number eight Chris Skidmore proved a thorn in their side as his unbeaten 74 eventually guided the home side past the winning post with three balls to spare, finishing on 333-8.

At the other end of the batting spectrum, Potterne failed to reach three figures as they were crushed by eight wickets at home by Clevedon.

Ashur Morrison’s side won the toss and chose to bat first, but were in disarray at 15-4 as none of the top five in the order scored more than five.

Number 10 Jake Roberts actually top scored with 24 as only three home players reached double figures en route to them being bowled out for a measly 99 inside 26 overs.

Ryan Higgins took 4-27 for Bridgwater, backed up by 3-26 from Dan Williams.

That lowly total was always going to be tough to defend for Morrison’s men and Harry Ellison bludgeoned 62 not out off 28 balls to see Bridgwater to a winning 105-2 inside 12 overs of their reply.

Potterne travel to Bristol this weekend, while Goatacre face a tough trip on the road themselves away at second-in-the-table Downend.