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Newton take first-division scalp in Minor Cup

From the Bridgwater Mercury, first published Friday 8th Jun 2007.

Somerset CB Minor Cup first round: North Newton bt Taunton CS Outc/Radiac by 6 runs

NEWTON continued their good form with a fantastic cup win away to first-division opponents in midweek.

Although the margin of victory was small, a young Newton team kept battling. They maintained the pressure all the way through the Radiac innings and this finally paid off.

After losing the toss again, Newton were asked to bat and their openers started cautiously against an all-spin attack, which included West Indian R Weekes. After 15 overs, the score had progressed to only 57-4 before Mike Stone joined Indian overseas player Keith Ward at the crease.

They transformed the innings with good running and the occasional boundary, doubling the total to 114 at the close of the 20 overs. Ward finished with a magnificent 55 not out, including 2 sixes and 3 fours, while Stone was 14 not out.

Radiac's openers batted without any alarms and, at 65-0 in the 11th over, they appeared to be cruising to victory. Spinner Ward finally got the , dismissing Weekes for 33.

Then leg-spinner Stone got to work and produced his best spell of bowling for the club with 3-29. Ward again proved his value to the team, bowling five top-quality overs to finish with 3-10.

Jack Cordery came back on to bowl at the end and picked up the vital wicket of Jackson, well-caught in the deep by Ward. It was left to Stone to bowl the final over, with Taunton needing 15 for victory, but he held his nerve, well backed up by his fielders, as Radiac fell six runs short.

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