Following a pre-season disrupted by poor weather Weston-super-Mare CC 1st XI started their Neon Cricket West of England league campaign with a trip to Keynsham CC, and left with an impressive eight wicket victory.

Having won the toss, captain Chris Davidson elected to have a bowl, acknowledging the green wicket and the strong bowling line up.

Building pressure from the first delivery, Dexter Trego, who took three wickets for 14 runs, struck in the second over to remove opening Keynsham batter Oliver Bell.

After some brief resistance from the home side line up Trego also accounted for Tom Bancroft and Ben Ackland, before Lachie Bailey joined the attack and helped reduced Keynsham to 39-6 in the 17th over.

Shabel Ahmed further compounded Keynsham’s misery, taking one wicket for 14 runs before Bailey promptly finished off Weston’s bowling responsibilities.

He took six wickets for only 12 runs during his fantastic eight over spell.

With the Keynsham innings finishing in the 25th over as they were bowled out for 59 by Weston's attack force, the visiting side knew that they were the odds on favourites to go on and win the game.

In reply though, Weston played a circumspect innings, respecting that low totals are difficult to chase and that Keynsham should not be written off too soon.

Shabel Ahmed and Robert Turner opened up the batting for Weston and were not looking to be rushed.

Turner played a watchful anchor innings as he hit an unbeaten nine off of 56 balls, whilst Ahmed played fluently around him to hit 20 off of 40 deliveries.

After Ahmed’s dismissal by Keynsham’s Ahmed Syed, Trego stepped up to the crease and added a simple two runs before being sent back to the changing rooms by a Sam Wheller ball and Syed catch.

Bailey then took to the wicket again for Weston, and he looked to take on the spinners.

His 22 runs from 23 balls helped to see the game home in the 22nd over, and also saw him win the Forte Financial player of the match after his bowling figures of 8-3-12-6.

The result is a great start for Weston, recording a comprehensive eight wicket victory in the first game of the season, and they next play Golden Hill CC on May 11th.