WEPL Premier One
Bridgwater 229-9, Clevedon 232-6
Piers McBride reports from The Parks.

On an afternoon during which we were constantly assured by a gentle and soothing rendition of that lovely old ballad “Three Lions On Me’ Shirt”, it took a monumental encounter between two well-matched sides to bring top-quality cricket into full focus.

Once it had been volubly confirmed that football was indeed ‘comin’ ‘ome’, players and spectators alike were able to indulge themselves into summer’s real sport, cricket.

Clevedon’s Jake Lintott was fortunate to have the all-round services of England’s multi-talented Dominic Bess at his disposal and the skipper had no hesitation in giving the gifted young off-spinner an early bowl after the home side had opted to bat first.

Bess wasted no time at all as he snared free-scoring openers Merv Hallaran and Liam Kitch for just a dozen runs apiece. From this point it was virtually suffocation by spin as the batsmen struggled to score freely off Clevedon’s left-arm inquisitors: Jake Lintott, Masoor Khan, Will Thirkell and Jake Rowe.

Partnerships were formed but run gathering proved tortuous until Chris Skidmore, 40, eased the shackles with four towering sixes. Cameron Harding had Stuart Butt brilliantly caught by Jake Rowe for 51 and the innings ran out of overs at 229 for 9. Not surprisingly international star Dominic Bess took the bowling plaudits, 10 overs, 3 maidens, 3 for 26, but he was fully supported by Will Thirkell, 1 for 22; Mas Khan, 1 for 34 and skipper Jacob Lintott, 3 for 50. The bowlers were fully supported in the field, with Will Carpenter and Jake Rowe in particular as fleet-footed and safe-handed as they inevitably are.

After a two-hour break for tea, three lions etc you understand, Masoor Khan and Dom Bess strode out to open the batting, but almost immediately Mas had to make the return trip alone after having been stitched up like a kipper by his young partner, run out for one.

Connor Crane, usually having to repair damage or scamper for quick runs at number six or seven, came in at three but almost at once Dominic was clean bowled by Andrew Skidmore for 29. Harry Ellison had his furniture reassembled by the same bowler while looking skywards for seven and blow me down if captain Jacob didn’t follow almost at once, LBW for just six.

By now, Connor Crane had grown accustomed to the conditions and he found a most unlikely ally in young Cameron Harding, who arrived at the crease looking far too slight and slender to face the big strong Bridgwater pace attack, which was fully-fired up with the score at 71 for 4. Not so though as Connor squared his shoulders, took a deep breath or two and assumed full responsibility for keeping an eye on his young charge, at the same time as seeing his team to victory.

Keeping the ball on the ground but missing no opportunity to punish anything wayward, Crane and Harding combined in a partnership of 104 before young Harding was caught for 40 off 67 balls. Will Plummer didn’t last long, but with time running out Connor was able to up the run rate with 45 still required for victory.

He found a doughty partner in the ice-cold and fully-focused Will Carpenter and together they ran each other into the ground as running between the wickets became imperative. Fittingly, in the penultimate over, Connor’s 14th boundary carried his team to victory at the same time as completing his faultless and undefeated maiden league century at virtually a run a ball. Connor, 101 not out and Will Carpenter, 20 not out, shared the required seventh wicket partnership of 45 as Clevedon squeezed over the line.

A fine all-round team performance and thoughts now turn to next Saturday’s match against Bath on Dial Hill. The result of this match could prove pivotal to the championship aspirations of both clubs and Clevedon will certainly be out to get revenge for their only league defeat of the campaign which was inflicted by Bath nine games ago at the start of the season.

Current standings, all played 10. 1 Clevedon, 186 pts; 2 Downend 154 pts; 3 Bath 149 pts; 4 Bristol 147 pts; 5 Taunton St Andrews 130 pts; 6 Potterne 113 pts; 7 Bridgwater 110 pts; 8 Bedminster 108 pts; 9 Goatacre 93 pts; 10 Frocester 80 pts.