Wellington Cricket Club

Wellington 2nd XI were involved in a rain affected Somerset League Reserves Competition Division Two match with their Watchet counterparts at home on Saturday that was rendered drawn after a late heavy shower cut the playing time left and having started late in the first place the draw came into been.
When the teams arrived at the ground they found it awash as heavy rain showers battered the ground, but a start was made just after 2.30pm and 40 overs per side was the format.
Watchet opted to ask Wellington to bat on winning the toss and a wicket was taken by the visitors early on before Julian Jones and Kevin Crout added 47 for the second wicket.
Jones punched the ball nicely through the covers as he timed the ball well and was just getting going when he found the deeply placed slip fielder as he looked to send one to third man.
Crout was busily building a top knock as he made a maiden league half-century for Wellington as he crashed some very hard well hit shots.
He was strong on the drive and on the cut too and was in sight of the three figure mark when he looped one up to cover. He made an excellent 93
Great support came from Kevin Symons – on his return to action after over two months out with an ankle injury – as he smote 23 good runs.
Bob Trott with 14 made sure the momentum that Wellington had built up was not lost and David Derrick, Charlie Last and Simon Spalding added useful runs and used up all the overs available bar four balls as Wellington closed on 184 in 39.2 overs.
Watchet’s best bowler was Milton who took 5-22 in 7.2 overs

Watchet laboured over their reply with the run rate not matching the required rate, but the only breakthrough gained early on was when Watchet skipper Manley was run out with his opposite number James Dyke playing a major role.
Watchet’s young opener W.Knight played a solid knock that saw him play the varied Wellington attack well. He withstood all that Wellington could throw at him until Kevin Symons got him with one that never got up.
Milton was playing an aggressive innings and could have been more trouble that he actually was when he edged one to Bob Trott at slip, having been dropped the ball before.
Simon Spalding bowled a controlled spell of off-spin and was rewarded when Jones looped one to Bob Trott who took a second catch of the day.
At 52-4 Watchet were well behind the clock, but doubled their score with Wookey making 31no and C.Knight contributing a useful 20. They took their team’s score from 52-4 to 106-5, but the stand was punctuated by the break for rain that saw the draw scenario come alive. Three overs were lost from Watchet’s allocation and the game petered out with only one more wicket been forthcoming off of the penultimate ball. Wellington took 26 points and Watchet claimed 27.
Watchet 2nd XI closed on 106-5 in 37 overs and interestingly have not had a game cancelled through rain this season, but this was their third drawn match of the season – a result that can now only occur through rain interruptions.
Wellington 2nd XI stay fourth in the table and will look to their next two matches at relegation threatened Temple Cloud 2nd XI and Peasedown St John 2nd XI as ideal opportunities to claim further useful points as the season draws to a close.

The club are grateful to Paul Hawkins Oil and Gas Ltd for their generous match ball sponsorship of this match.