WEPL Premier One

Bath 286 all out beat Bridgwater by 76 runs

BRIDGWATER moved closer to the relegation zone following a disappointing defeat at home to Bath on Saturday.

Steve Davis elected to insert the visitors after winning the toss but Bridgwater’s bowlers found it hard going against a talented bath batting line-up, as Tim Rouse (114) made a superb century to lay the foundation for what could have been a huge total for the visitors.

Bath found the boundary frequently in the opening 30 overs and reached 196-1 before Josh Horler’s slow left arm removed Seb Benton (58).

Thereafter, Bridgwater fought back as Horler (3-50) and Todd Barrett’s (5-61) leg spin ripped through the bath middle order to restrict the visitors to 286 despite Bath looking as if they would amass well over 300 at the half way stage.

Bridgwater lost Merv Hallaran (0) and George Bartlett early as the home side slumped to 27-2 but some steady batting from Mitch Windsor (55) and Chris Gange (48) looked to set the foundation for a decent attempt at chasing the bath total.

However, when Bridgwater needed to increase the scoring rate they found it especially hard against some excellent Bath bowling and when the runs began to dry up between overs and 20 and 30, the Bridgwater batters began to feel the pressure.

Windsor and Stuart Butt (28) took Bridgwater past 150 but when they both fell in quick succession, the home side looked to be on the rocks.

The next batters had very little choice other than to take the attack to the bath bowlers with the required run rate at nine an over, but 180 runs from 20 overs was always going to be a tall order and the wickets inevitably began to fall.

Bridgwater eventually came up well short of the Bath total as they were all out for 210.

Bridgwater now have a must win game at home to Taunton Deane next Saturday, who sit one place below them in Premier One.

Bridgwater would like to thanks match day sponsors Bridgwater Town Council and sponsors TMB Patterns, Falcon Vehicle Solutions and Higos Insurance Services.