Clevedon’s batting left a lot to be desired as the defending champions slumped to defeat against Potterne in the WEPL on Saturday.

North Somerset Times: Will Thirkell in batting action for Clevedon (pic Jason Crane)Will Thirkell in batting action for Clevedon (pic Jason Crane) (Image: Archant)

On a ground not much larger than a postage stamp, Clevedon's batsmen dithered around without much of a clue.

Number three Harry Ellison looked confident enough and punctuated a solid innings with seven fours and a six before falling lbw for 47.

But it was a procession after he left as batsmen scrambled about not knowing whether to run singles or try to clear the outfield. Twos were not an option, but on the other hand the boundary was always well within reach.

Hastily padding up as wickets tumbled, the innings stumbled along to 116-9 at which point the last pair, Will Thirkell and Danny Williams joined forces to bat without the slightest difficulty as they shared a most enterprising 10th-wicket partnership of 75.

Thirkell treated the home attack with total disdain lofting six sixes and four fours in an innings of 57 from just 38 deliveries.

And while he was creating mayhem at one end, number 11 Williams hardly put a foot wrong while compiling a chanceless and undefeated 16.

The pair injected some genuine pride into proceedings and their free scoring stand gave the visitors just a glimmer of hope as the innings closed on 191 with 15 precious overs still remaining.

Young Clevedon debutant all-rounder Ben Charlesworth cleaned out the Potterne openers in next to no time, but then Gloucester stalwarts Aneurin Donald (30) and Neil Clark (36) shared a partnership of 35.

Matthew Carpenter (2-28) broke the stand and the pendulum swung, as at 115-6 there was a glimmer of hope for the long suffering Clevedon supporters.

An eighth-wicket stand of 67 put an end to all that, before an astonishing one-handed catch in the deep by Thirkell - certainly as spectacular as the much-hyped Ben Stokes effort for England against South Africa - duly put Clevedon briefly back in the hunt.

But in the end it counted for nothing as the home side eased home with 16 overs to spare and Clevedon will hope for better when they play host to Lansdown on Saturday.

Latest standings (5 matches): 1 Bath 102 pts; 2 Bridgewater 75; 3 Bedminster 71; 4 Potterne 67; 5 Lansdown 64; 6 Downend 62; 7 Clevedon 58; 8 Taunton St Andrews 57; 9 Bristol 48; 10 Cheltenham 34.