MINEHEAD 1st XI travelled to Chard for their third game of the season, looking to build on the previous week’s win against Wedmore in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League.

Dan Bowditch lost the toss as Minehead were invited to bowl first on a good looking Chard wicket. Harry Tudball and the returning Oliver Groves opened up, and immediately put pressure on the competent looking Chard openers. The score had reached 30 when both Tudball and Groves were rewarded with a wicket each, as both opening batsmen edged to Ian Buchanan at first slip.

Tudball then produced a beauty of a delivery in the 13th over, as the ball swung away from the right-handed Johnson before darting back off the seam to bowl him middle stump, as Chard slipped to 53-3. This brought the home side’s captain to the crease Josh Short, who survived two clear catching opportunities before he’d reached double figures - which The Pirates would regret as Short began hammering the ball to the boundary.

He quickly reached his 50 as Chard began to rebuild, until Bowditch forced him to edge onto his stumps in the 27th over, with the score now 137-4. Despite a solid spell from Jack Richards, Chard began to build a good looking total as they brought up 200 without further loss.

Rob Spiers made the breakthrough when he had Scott well caught by Freddie Wilson for 39, which triggered further wickets for Groves and Spiers in the final 5 overs as Chard climbed to a competitive 242-7 from their allotted 45 overs.

Minehead began solidly in the chase as Buchanan and Jonah Hopkins took the score to 40, before Buchanan was caught at mid-wicket for 20, looking to kick on. Hopkins soon followed him back as he was clean bowled by a ball that kept low for 8.

Wilsonand Josh Hurley kept the board ticking over as The Pirates passed 50, but Wilson was shortly after trapped LBW for a quick fire 22. Bowditch joined Hurley and struck an early maximum in his innings, as the pair took the Minehead total to 100, but a mix up led to Bowditch being run out with a sharp direct hit for 26 on the stroke of the drinks break - which saw Minehead take a breather at 102-4, with 141 still required.

Chard rotated their bowlers well after drinks and despite the middle orders best efforts, Minehead were always behind the rate. Chris James batted well once again to make a run a ball 35, but he fell looking to launch Legg for another maximum with the score on 162. Hurley ensured wickets were in hand going into the final quarter of the game, but Chard’s spinners squeezed harder and the result soon looked inevitable when he was bowled for 35.

When Darren Sherring and Groves fell in quick succession Minehead looked done and dusted, but Tudball had other ideas as he launched a towering six out of the ground over mid-wicket to give his side hope. Sadly though, he was bowled next ball rather irresponsibly looking to defend, and when Spiers was bowled for 5 Minehead were all out for 194 from 40.2 overs.

Some good cricket was played in periods of the game with some key learnings to take into the rest of the season.