Wellington Cricket Club

The 2nd XI could not match the 1st XI’s result and pull off a double over the team from near Glastonbury as they were soundly beaten by seven wickets.
James Dyke lost the toss for the first time this season and was asked to take first knock on an emerald green track that looked as if it would have a lot in it for the bowlers, but Rupert Green and Julian Jones put paid to this theory as they amassed an opening stand of 122. Jones passed 50 for the first time this season and was playing some excellent shots all round the wicket and had made 67 when he was first to fall.
Green powered to 92 with five sixes before he chipped one to cover to be out an agonising eight runs short of a second league ton in 2005.
After this Wellington lost their way and ended up some 20-30 short of the kind of total they required on a small ground.
210-4 with four overs to go limped to 220-8 in 45 as the Red and Blacks second string lost impetus.
James Dyke and David Derrick were their not out batsmen at the end.
For Butleigh Smith with 5-39 in 11 overs was their best bowler by far.

Wellington were limited in the bowling department and knew they had to field very well to back up what bowling they possessed, but unfortunately such a performance was not forthcoming as regulation chances were spilled allowing Butleigh’s openers Million and Foyne to forge an opening stand of 148. Sure they did both play fine knocks, but were given a helping hand on the way. Million made 122 before Andy Mitchell – who bowled his heart out on his 16th birthday – bowled him as he heaved across the line.
Mitchell took 1-70 in 12 overs.
Gary Tillett was Wellington’s best bowler on the day and the off-spinner’s figures of 2-34 in 12 overs are supreme on a day of heavy run scoring.
When Tillett took two wickets in one over Wellington’s hopes rose and although Guyver and Greenwood waited until the 43rd over to hit the winning runs the Red and Blacks second string had been well beaten. They took 13 points to Butleigh’s 33.

Dreadful weather accompanied this match for the second year running and demanded some perseverance from both sets of players, but in the end a good game was played out as Wellington won their first full-length Midweek XI match for two years when they defeated Sussex tourists Holmbush Park by 30 runs last Friday.

In a game shortened to thirty overs per side due to the Under 11 match that was to follow Wellington skipper Rupert Green opted to bat first and saw his team make slow progress against Holmbush’s accurate opening attack of Marney and Roast.
Marney removed two wickets with the score only on 8, but Paul Short and David Derrick steadied Wellington’s innings before Derrick was caught in the deep.
John Paine joined Short and they brought up Wellington’s fifty. On Paine’s departure Richard Das Neves and Short put together the partnership that secured Wellington’s innings as Short made it to 39 before been stumped – a painstaking innings that was invaluable to his team’s cause.
Das Neves made 28 in his usual quick temp way before he too was caught in the deep
At 107-8 Wellington would have been happy with 120 or so, but Thom Trott and Adrian Lee added 29 in quick time to secure a testing total for the tourists. Trott made 28no with one maximum.
For Holmbush Hunter with 4-34 was their most successful bowler.

The 137 required was roughly the same as had been required the previous year, but Wellington’s strong and varied bowling attack was happy to defend this total.
Keeper Alec Short was kept busy as he snaffled four catches and a stumping as the ball did much on the damp slow surface.
Thom Trott and Adrian Lee removed the openers before spin duo Richard Das Neves and Paul Short got to work and really tied down Holmbush Park so that the run rate was rising with the overs available diminishing accordingly.
Short was on a hat-trick and his 3-6 in 4 overs was crucial.
Das Neves with 2-23 in 5.5 overs wrapped things up for Wellington.
Holmbush keeper Doidge with a pleasant knock of 53 played their best innings by far and was finally removed by John Paine who took 1-20.
Rupert Green removed Roast through a good Barry Salter catch as he made ground to get to the ball.
In the end Wellington had won by 30 runs with 2.1 overs left of the thirty and the Red and Blacks had combined well in trying weather conditions.