Ilminster CC were eventually able to get their league match against Midsomer Norton underway this Saturday after hours of rain at the away ground, but the reduced 31-over match saw the local side lose by nine wickets.

Midsomer Norton won the toss and decided to put Ilminster into bat, letting them deal with the wet wicket first.

Ilminster openers Riley Millett and Adeesha Nanayakkara started off strongly for the away team and partnered for 27 runs before Millet was run out after hitting 22 runs off 21 balls.

Sam Spurway then joined Nanayakkara on the square and the pair combined for 16 runs until Spurway’s lbw dismissal by Morgan Skipp, leaving Ilminster on 43-2.

Jonny Wary, 10 runs, and Charlie Vickery, 10, both partnered with Nanayakkara before being sent back to the changing rooms, and the opener followed them after an lbw decision removed him from his team’s longest batting stand of 33 balls.

Nanayakkara’s wicket put Ilminster at 78-5, and Lachlan Rice and Jon Hurford added a quick 15 and 17 runs respectively to take their team to 114-7.

Ilminster’s bottom order then saw out the game to finish on 123 runs for nine wickets, but a revised total meant Midsomer Norton had to hit 108 for the win.

Unfortunately for Ilminster, Norton’s batsmen were feeling themselves and were in no mood to let the previous rain ruin their day.

Alex Lear, 34 runs, and Paul Robbins, 11, opened before Robbins walked after good bowling from Charlie Vickery.

However, his replacement Jake Roberts came in and smashed 60 runs off 39 balls to reach their revised total in just 17.5 overs and give Ilminster the nine-wicket victory.

Ilminster’s Ladies were also in action this weekend as they entertained Allerton CC, and they faired better than their male counterparts.

Allerton batted first and could only muster a net score of 100 runs after some great bowling from Ilminster, including three wickets from Jess Cox.

Ilminster then had to face the Allerton bowling attack which did threaten to derail the home team’s victory plans, but a solid team performance with the bat saw Ilminster reach their target after 16 overs.

The biggest contributors were Jo Gibbins with 12 runs, Sophie Gibbins with 14, Emma Harris with 21, and Jess Cox completed an excellent all-round performance with 17 to give Ilminster the win by 27 runs.

Ilminster men now take on Taunton Deane at home on Saturday whilst the women play Ilton away on Sunday.