Taunton St Andrews were involved in a close game against Bath on Saturday, but in the end it was the Premier One reigning champions who ran out the winners by two wickets.

After the hosts opted to bat first, they posted 226 for nine from their 50 overs.

Of which opener, Gabriel Gallmann-Finlay made 23, during which he shared in a second wicket partnership with James Rew who hit 34.

Jay Terry and Josh Thomas added 50 together before Terry was dismissed for 27.

The Saint’s skipper, Thomas, then saw the score onto 194, adding 44 with Thomas Rew, before he perished for 50 off 65 balls, bagging five fours.

The younger of the Rews stayed to see the score past 200, but 10 runs later was dismissed for 39 off 27 balls with six fours, before the hosts ended their innings on 226 for nine from their 50 overs.

An opening stand of 123 gave Bath a good start before Josh Thomas dismissed Harry Ellison for 61.

Terry then dismissed Jack Scrivens for 70 with the total on 158 before Josh Thomas removed Charlie Brain making Bath 169 for three and heading for an easy victory.

However, the Saints bowlers then struck and wickets tumbled as Bath slumped from 193 for three to 203 for seven.

When Matthew Cadywould was run out by James Rew, the Saints hopes of pulling off what had seemed an unlikely victory were raised.

Sadly, however, it wasn’t to be as Bath skipper, Tim Rouse, stayed calm and saw his side to 227 for eight off the first ball of the last over.

Josh Thomas with three for 27 was the pick of the bowlers while there were two each for Terry, and James Rew.

(Image: Richard Walsh)

Saints Seconds made the trip to play North Perrott in Somerset League Premier Division, where batting first, the hosts posted 227 for eight, Toby Pattemore taking four for 61 against his former club.

In reply, the Saints reached 197 for nine of which Toby Williams-Thomas hit 52 and Jordan Clapp 45.

In Division Four of the SCL, Saints A were in action at North Curry, batting first; they were all out for 187 in 36.2 overs of which Row Adams made 46.

Nick Eggbeer remained unbeaten on 56 which came off 62 balls and included eight fours.

For North Curry, Nick Hitchcott claimed five for 43 from his eight overs while Jason Harris took three for 22.

The hosts made light work of their target and reached 189 for two in 18.4 overs, thanks to Rupert Baverstock who made 96 off 64 balls with 13 fours and four sixes before he was bowled out by Danny Woolcott and George Webber who hit 45.

In Division Seven, the Saints B side played against Taunton Deane Fifths and batting first, posted 266 for eight off their 40 overs of which Nick Bennett scored 75 and Nigel Contreras 73, the pair adding 103 for the second wicket.

Later in the order, Nile Pritchard made 34 while Harvey Revolledo hit 20.

The pick of the Deane bowlers was Nicola Worley, who took three for 48.

When the hosts replied, they were bowled out for 142 in 36.5 overs.

Henry Pal made a run a ball 32, Lois Thornton made 22 while final batter, John Ponte, made 17 off 12 balls.

For the Saints, there were two wickets apiece for Andrew Batstone, Pritchard, Finlay Hedges and Colin Gudge.