Wellington 186 – Peasedown St John 187-8
Peasedown St John made very heavy weather of reaching the required total of 187, having been 179-3 at one point, but Wellington’s batting line-up had not played to it’s potential and the Red and Blacks were indebted to their lower order for providing something to bowl at in this Somerset League Division One fixture near Bath last Saturday.
PSJ opted to ask Wellington to bat first on a slow green track that was still suffering from the almighty thunderstorms that had battered the north of the county the day before.
Two wickets were lost by the time the score had reached 27, Rob Moysey (39) passed 10,000 WCC runs during the course of this innings, and Marc Holloway (26) were looking good with both cutting and pulling the ball to good effect, but the introduction of the innocuous off-spinner Joyce put the skids under Wellington as he took wickets in two of his first three overs for no cost. Add to the fact that at other end Gullock was bowling a great line and length and ended his 12 over spell with two wickets in successive balls Wellington dipped from 73-2 to 81-7 and were staring down the barrel of a low score, but the fightback was led by Thom Trott who top scored with an excellent 42no, an innings that was thoughtful as well as good to watch. He added 25 eighth wicket runs with John Paine who creamed 24 in another good display of clean hitting.
Stands of 45 and 35 with Stuart Turner and Adrian Lee followed and these not only gave Wellington’s score a much needed boost, but demoralised the PSJ attack who had hoped for an early tea.
Wellington’s hopes had risen with the heroics of their lower order, but they were soon deflated when Wilkinson and Ford lashed a 108 run opening partnership in 22 overs. Both played some hard hit shots and Wellington, despite changing the attack often, struggled to make an impression.
Rob Moysey’s pressed himself into action and nearly pulled off another match winning bowling performance along the lines of Minehead two weeks previously. His leg-spinners were like a spitting cobra at times as the Wellington skipper took 6-35 in 9.5 overs as PSJ collapsed like a pack of cards from 179-3 to 182-8 and Wellington felt that the tide was turning and when Stuart Turner too collected a wicket during this flurry of dismissals anything was possible, but an inglorious swat across the line from Lawrence sealed a nervy two wickets win for PSJ. They collected 35 points to Wellington’s 17.
Wellington still only have two wins from eight games this season and occupy seventh position in the division.
July is a pivotal month for them as they play five games, four of which are at Courtland Road, and they must make this advantage count – something they are patently aware of.
