The 2nd XI recorded what was, statistically, one of Wellington’s most comprehensive league wins ever as they demolished bottom side Ilton 2nd XI in this Somerset League Reserves Competition Division Two fixture by ten wickets last Saturday.
Indeed this was the second time in a row that this had been the outcome of a match between these two sides as Wellington 2nd XI had meted out an identical result back in July 1999.
James Dyke opted to ask the visitors to bat first on winning the toss and when Ilton had been reduced to 38-5 the writing was on the wall.
Adrian Lee took 2-12 on 5 overs and Martin Short 2-29 in 8 as Wellington’s bowlers simply had too much skill and guile for the basement side.
Only Fooks with 20 and Ilton skipper Matravers with 16 made any real impression with the bat as the last four Ilton played each recorded ducks..
Newcomer Richard Henwood took 1-18 as Kevin Crout accepted a chance behind the stumps.
Phil Nicholls was rewarded with a three wicket bag as he cleaned up the Ilton tail with Chris Rudd (2-5) for a final score of 94 in only 24.4 overs – over 20 overs shy of the full allocation.

Kevin Crout and Julian Jones wasted no time in getting into their stride as they mercilessly laid into the Ilton attack in such a way that the required runs and victory was achieved in 14.5 overs.
Crout hit only boundaries before the tea break and ended on 53no and Jones was equally severe in making 36no and, all told, the match was over by 5.30pm with Wellington 2nd XI taking 35 points and rising to fifth in the table.
Ilton 2nd XI took only four points and look doomed even before the half-way point in the season.

The match ball for this fixture was kindly supplied by Ablelec Ltd (01823 443875).