This was an excellent game of 20/20 cricket played in gloomy conditions at Courtland Road last Tuesday evening when Wellington Midweek XI just edged out Nynehead to give the Red and Blacks a double over their neighbours, having won at Ham back in April.

With regular Wellington Midweek XI captain Rupert Green nursing a bad back his son Ben took charge and opted to ask Nynehead to bat first and Julian Smit made a breakthrough in his first over as he removed Simon Gamlin, but this was the cue for Alex Sparks, a player who has split allegiances as he plays his league cricket for Wellington 1st XI, to play a blinding innings of 96, his sixth consecutive half-century for Nynehead, that guided his side to 157-4 in their 20 overs.
Chris Izzet and Rivers Barry gave him excellent support at the other end as the village side posted a most creditable total.

Simon Spalding was Wellington’s most accurate bowler and he escaped the run flow that was taking place. Kevin Crout removed Sparks stumped by Sam Cook just four short of his century.

Wellington had to use all their batting resources if they were to take on and chase down the 158 required to win, but they got away to a bad start as a wicket was lost with the score on 4, but Rob Moysey and Julian Smit got the runs flowing, much as Nynehead had earlier in the game, and this pair looked very well set before Moysey was bowled for 30.

Smit made a fine 58 with some well-timed boundaries, but when he was bowled by Ben Gamlin Wellington’s cause looked rocky, but a fine partnership between Ben Green and Charlie Last did wonders for their team’s cause as they added 47 runs and along the way recorded their highest Wellington scores of 22 and 18no respectively.

When Green was out fifteen were still needed from the last over and a bit, but Sam Cook (12no) stepped up to the plate and a searing six over deep square-leg brought Wellington towards the Nynehead total and they passed it with two balls to spare.

This was a fine match and was a third win out of three for Wellington Midweek XI in 20/20 matches this season so far.