Clevedon are hoping for a complete recovery in the defence of their WEPL title after beating Taunton St Andrews on Saturday.

North Somerset Times: Clevedon's Adnan Mufti (pic Jason Crane)Clevedon's Adnan Mufti (pic Jason Crane) (Image: Archant)

Put into bat, openers Masoor Khan and Greg Willows combined with real purpose and their 49-run partnership appeared to be the launch pad for a sizeable total.

Clevedon's middle order begged to differ and Harry Ellison, Connor Crane and captain Jake Lintott quickly reverted to type and normal service was soon resumed.

At 99-4 after 33 overs and with the gutsy Khan holding a watching brief the outlook was far from bright.

But the arrival of Adnan Mufti changed all that and his run-a-ball 37, including six fours, gave the innings much needed impetus.

North Somerset Times: Clevedon's Will Thirkell (pic Jason Crane)Clevedon's Will Thirkell (pic Jason Crane) (Image: Archant)

The pair added 60 in next to no time and and it's just as well they did for the last five batsmen could garner just 21 runs.

The classy Khan was finally dismissed for a match defining 81, having hit seven fours, but though the final total of 195 was slightly disappointing it was nectar for the balcony experts who had been starved of runs during recent weeks.

Following tea, Danny Williams ripped the heart out of the visitors top order by seeing off the top three for a combined total of just six runs.

Following that there was really nowhere for Taunton to go and once prolific run reaper James Regan had been sent packing for just 10 by Cameron Harding the game was over as a meaningful contest.

North Somerset Times: Clevedon's Danny Williams (pic Jason Crane)Clevedon's Danny Williams (pic Jason Crane) (Image: Archant)

With the wicket now turning it was time for the left-arm spin triumvirate to assume control and Jake Lintott (3-25), Khan (2-8) and the unplayable Will Thirkell (10-7-4-0) did just that.

Off spinner Matt Carpenter bowled his 10 overs to finish with 1-29 and with Crane holding two towering catches in the deep to bring matters to a conclusion that was just about that.

Their 80-run victory took Clevedon out of the danger zone, at least for now, but there is another bargain basement encounter next Saturday when they travel to Failand to take on Bristol.

Latest standings (10 matches played): Potterne 171 pts; Bridgwater 165; Bath 162; Bedminster 144; Lansdown 126; Downend 120; Clevedon 106; Cheltenham 102; Taunton St Andrews 80; Bristol 77.