AN excellent spell of bowling from Darren Sherring was not enough to prevent Minehead from falling to a 54-run defeat against Bishopston in the Bristol and Somerset Division of the WEPL.

Sherring claimed 6-48 from 7.3 overs as Bishopston were bowled out for 214 in the 40th over. The score would have been considerably much less had it not been for a an excellent 109 from opener Mark Coombes.

He and fellow opener Joe Wenham (55) piled on the runs and Coombes smashed the bowling attack all over the field with his 109 including 80 in boundaries with eight fours and eight sixes.

Coombes was the first wicket to go when he was caught by Bradley Martin off the bowling of Josh Barrett with the score on 154-1.

That was the big difference between the two sides with Minehead skittling out the remaining nine wickets for just 60 runs.

Any hopes Minehead might have had vanished very quickly into the reply when they lost their opening three wickets without having put a run on the scoreboard.

Matt Drakeley (43), Bradley Martin (33) and Josh Barrett (37) added some respectability to the score, but the game was already up and they were dismissed for 160 in the 38th over.

Minehead are away at Clevedon on Saturday.