Somerset 223

Willow Cuts 224-5

Resurgent Willow Cuts capped off a brilliant weekend of cricket by handing neighbouring Somerset a five-wicket defeat at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

In pursuit of the home team's total of 223, Cuts got solid support from the top of their order as the Basden trio of Dwight, Dexter and Richard, along with the in-form Reggie Tucker Jr all came good with the willow.

First, Dwight and Dexter Basden put on 63 runs for the first wicket to get Cuts off to a good start, with the latter carrying on where he left off during Saturday's Western Counties clash with Southampton.

Dexter, the more aggressive of the pair, and appearing destined for another big score, stroked a boundary laden 34 (seven fours) before his innings finally came to an abrupt halt in the ninth over when he played over a Randy Simmons delivery attempting to dispatch the spinner out of the ground.

From here, however, the real fireworks display began, as cousin Dwight tore into the Somerset attack with an awesome display of power hitting - but not before Cordell Gilbert threw his wicket away, attempting a hook shot through square leg only to find the safe hands of Simmons instead.

Basden was also fortunate not to have been run out on several occasions thanks largely to some poor glove work by his brother Dwayne, deputising behind the stumps for Somerset in the absence of regular wicketkeeper Reid Jones.

Given a reprieve, Basden and number four batsman Tucker added 34 runs for the third wicket before the former was finally out, clean-bowled by Tony Cheeseman for a well-played 52. The Cuts opener cracked six fours and two towering sixes and brought up half-century in style with a straight driven six over the long off boundary.

Tucker was then joined at the crease by skipper Richard Basden and together the pair featured in Cuts' biggest stand of 90 runs for the fourth-wicket taking them to the brink of victory and atoning for an earlier season loss to their local rivals.

Tucker stroked another solid 45 (seven fours) to fall just five runs short of a deserved half-century, while Basden also held his end of the bargain with an equally fine knock of 37 (two fours).

It was then left to Trevor Forth (seven not out) and Bergon Spencer (eight not out) to polish things off as Cuts extended their fine form of late by surpassing Somerset's total in exactly 45 overs.

Simmons proved to be the home side's best bowler, the veteran spinner finishing with figures of two for 32 from ten overs which included two maidens while Wendell White, David Gibbs and Cheeseman each managed a wicket apiece.

Earlier, White enjoyed another solid knock with the blade. The Somerset all-rounder plundered 52 runs which included four fours and three sixes. Dwight Basden scored 34 runs coming in at number three, while Sheridan (Baldy) Ming chipped in with a useful 23 (three fours) and Cheeseman 25 (four fours).

Fresh from out of the woodwork, Tyrone Berkeley grabbed three wickets for 42 runs to lead the Cuts attack, Charles (Bucky) Swan two for 24 from five overs of medium seam, while Richard Basden and uncle Kevin Fubler managed a wicket apiece.