Temple entertained Middlezoy at Stowey Road in this Somerset League Premier Division fixture. They were at their inconsistent worst, losing by seven wickets after a comfortable win the week before.
Temple won the toss, and batted on an excellent track, but were reduced to 15–4 in quick time. There followed a partial recovery by Kevin Curtis (40) and Andrew Mortimer (31), but on their dismissals, wickets again fell in quick succession. A last wicket stand of 45 between Chris Diaper (37 not-out) and Dan Raisbeck (17 not-out) took the score to an under par 189–9. For Middlezoy, opening bowlers, Barnard, 3–46 and Musgrove, 3–28, did the damage, with Tilling, 3–36, taking late wickets.
In reply, Temple took two early wickets but were thwarted by the two bowlers who did the earlier damage. Barnard (54 not-out) and Musgrave (97) featured in a 140 partnership, which gave the visitors a comfortable seven-wicket victory.
Temple used eight bowlers but were unable to make any further inroads, with Chris Diaper, 1–18 off his nine overs, the most successful.
To round off a disappointing day, the Second Xl were well beaten by Wedmore 1st Xl. The club would like to thank Venture Insurance, AXA Capital and the Carpenters Arms for their valued sponsorship of the opening games of the season.
G. Jackson