Middlezoy 1st XI. 248 Temple Cloud 1st XI 251-9

Temple won by 1 wicket.

It’s been quieter this week with the League season beginning to wind down, although Club competitions continue into September.

For the final game of the season Temple needed a victory to avoid relegation and other results to go their way.

In the event, they won a nail-biting encounter by one wicket and Taunton St Andrews Secon XI beat Minehead Second XI, meaning Minehead were relegated.

Middlezoy batted first and their main player, Nathan Barnard, was again in top form, scoring 73, until he was caught and bowled by Spike Wilton. He was well supported by Robinson (36), Pomeroy (38) and White (30) and a final score of 248 looked very challenging. Steve Brown 1-25 bowled an economic spell, but the other Temple bowlers proved expensive. Enter skipper, Kevin Curtis, not normally noted for his bowling, but he returned the match- changing figures of 5-39 off 9 overs.

Temple’s reply started disastrously, losing two early wickets. As happened the previous week, against Butleigh, Simon Curtis (48) and brother Kevin (99) put together a match winning partnership. They put on 150 in quick time, putting Temple ahead of the required rate, but they both fell in quick succession, leaving 70 to get from the final 6 wickets.

A nervy spell ensued, with Tom Haydon (29) holding the middle and lower order together, whilst wickets fell cheaply at the other end. Nathan Peppard claimed 3-6 with his left armrest. In the end, with the last pair together, Simon Mahoney, with several lusty blows, saw Temple home to the narrowest of victories.

In their final game of the season the Second XI entertained Shapwick and Polden Third XI and were defeated by 4 wickets. Temple scored 196-4, with Stef McHale (70) and Simon White (41) top scoring. Shapwick replied with 200-6, with Richard Appleyard 4-24, the most successful home bowler, leaving Temple in a mid-table position after a challenging year.

G Jackson