TAUNTON St Andrews produced a miraculous fightback to win their West of England Premier One clash with Keynsham at the Wyvern on Saturday.

A brilliant 73 by Paul Lawrence and Graham Porter's 67 from number nine saved the day with the bat, before Dixon Walsh man of the match Porter completed a memorable display by taking 7-70. Having been in deep trouble at 2-3, disarray at 44-6 and well short of a defendable total at 144-9, they managed 226, before the visitors collapsed to 157 all out.

When news filtered through that leaders Bath had fallen to a shock defeat against Bristol West Indians, a remarkable day was complete and the title race was back on.

Having chosen to bat, Saints skipper Kevin Parsons could scarcely have believed that he, Mike Burns and Kevin Sedgbeer would all be reduced to spectators within 10 minutes of the start. Rich Pannell (3-53) took all three wickets, aided by two smart catches from keeper Jon Baker.

James Trundley crunched four boundaries before Rich Wilton bowled him with one that kept low and, moments later, Ashley Grundy followed him back, caught and bowled by Wilton after the ball held up in the surface.

The pitch was not inspiring much confidence and when Wilton (3-52) yorked Robbie Rexworthy to make it 44-6, the home side were praying for a downpour from the leaden skies.

The gods duly obliged, but only eight overs were lost and battle resumed, with Lawrence the last specialist batsman needing to produce something special. With tremendous composure and skill, he did just that, adding 44 with Mike Parsons and 55 with Porter before being caught and bowled by Parfan Waghela.

There were 13 overs left when last man Steve Jenkins came to the crease with just 144 on the board. He and Porter batted sensibly, picking up singles with ease and a late onslaught took the Saints to a good total. The pair put on 82 for the last wicket, with Jenkins adding a vital 25 not out.

Keynsham's reply started poorly when Indian star Waghela, the league's top run-scorer last year, fended a brutish delivery from Porter to Burns at first slip. Russ Wakefield edged to keeper Jenkins soon after and Rhys Williams had visiting skipper Simon Knowles caught by Trundley.

Mark Raisbeck and James Golding steadied the ship and, although the required run-rate was six an over, the visitors had a good platform at 121-3. But Porter returned and Raisbeck edged to Kevin Parsons at slip for 49. Pannell was then beaten for pace and lbw to the next ball, changing the complexion of the game.

Sedgbeer, who had been toiling away with little luck, managed to bowl both Golding and Baker around their legs and the end was nigh, with an inexperienced tail unable to cope with Porter's pace. Ben Whittington lost his off stump, before Theo Kalic and Wilton both edged bouncers to Jenkins.