The 1st XI finally tasted competitive action for the first time in 2005 when they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Baker Cup by despatching Taunton Deane 2nd XI by 30 runs at the Playing Fields on Monday evening.

Deane 2nd XI – who play their league cricket in the WECCC Premier League Two Reserves competition – strangely opted to ask Wellington to bat first when they won the toss, thus knowing that they would be batting in the fading light, not normally the modus operandi of evening based cup cricket matches.

Wellington got away to a positive start with Rob Moysey and Mark Salter putting on a 33 run opening stand, this was ended when Moysey was adjudged LBW for 17.
Salter was joined by Richard das Neves and they got the score through to 67 in 9 overs with some excellent shots as well as hard determined running, turning ones into twos and so on. Thom Trott with a useful 15 made an impact as well with the bat.
Salter top scored for Wellington with 36 and das Neves weighed in with 22 in 15 balls.

As the overs ticked by wickets fell with some regularly, but Bradley Field, returning to cricket after a couple of years out pursuing his rugby career, made a useful 14 from number six. Taunton Deane’s Squire returned the excellent figures of 6-14 in 4.5 overs to go with his league based 8-17 against Ilminster 2nd XI on Saturday, but Wellington still had a competitive total to defend despite the run rate dipping as time went on in their innings.

John Paine and Richard das Neves saw to it that Taunton Deane 2nd XI never got into the game with a tight spell each early on, Paine was swift in his three overs that cost only five runs while, das Neves bowled his off-spin with all the variation that has come to the fore in his short time with Wellington. This broke the back of any real attempt that the Deane reserves could muster.

After this period they opted for some batting practice and to take their place in the Plate competition. Liddle with a patient 37 batted well, but there was no urgency as Deane skipper Jones also batted in a sedate manner for 15no. Gary Tillett and Kevin Symons captured wickets for Wellington as the game rather ran out of steam and was concluded in near darkness with the Deane’s decision to field first still perplexing more than just a few who were present.

WECCC Premier One side Taunton are the likely quarter-final opponents for Wellington and this match takes place at Courtland Road on Monday 23rd May.