Wellington Cricket Club

Wellington 2nd XI need thirteen points from their last match of the season to be sure of promotion to Division One of the Somerset League’s Reserves competition following this eight wicket win over basement side Ilton 2nd XI and Bridgwater 3rd XI’s win over Butleigh 2nd XI, a win for the Bridgwater side that secures them the divisional title for the 2006 season.
Wembdon 2nd XI take over in third place on 434 points and can secure a maximum of 469 points with a win of their own over Ilton 2nd XI, thus meaning that James Dyke’s side need 13 points to be sure of finishing second as they have 457 points currently.

Ilton, who have pretty much propped up the division all season were expected to be easy pickings for Wellington, but it did not prove to be so for a while at least.
James Dyke won the toss and inserted the home side and when Martin Short accepted a regulation chance at mid-wicket from Richard Henwood it looked as if a side whose batting has been suspect all season would once again fold, but a fine knock of 67 from Goss and 39 from Ilton skipper Matravers gave Wellington more than headache or two as they took Ilton’s score towards 100 with only one wicket down.
Good fortune came Wellington’s way when Martin Short bowled Matravers with a dipping full toss that he lost sight of and this was Wellington’s way into the Ilton order.
Short picked up another wicket in another good spell of left-arm medium pace that got better as the spell developed.
Bob Trott picked up the wicket of Goss who slapped a full toss to James Dyke at short cover.
This was the end of Ilton’s chances of making 200.
Andy Mitchell mopped up the tail with the fine figures of 4-6 in 4 overs. Simon Rudd took a wicket late on too as Ilton were despatched for 151 in 43 overs.
Wellington had recovered well from a rather turgid passage of play mid-innings.

Wellington had the game won with over 20 overs to spare as Phil Nicholls and Julian Jones laid into a weak bowling attack from the off.
Nicholls made a capital 28 and looked set to go on from this, but he slapped a short wide ball straight to the point fielder and was gone with the score on 59.
Jones then really opened his shoulders and totalled 75no from only 61 balls and was the main reason that Wellington won with such ease.
Another wicket was lost just after the hundred had been posted, but this was the last alarm for the Red and Blacks second string as Simon Rudd too laid into some friendly bowling to the tune of 28no in quick time.
Wellington had won by eight wickets and importantly had realised 35 points from this win to Ilton’s nine.

The scene is set for a party like atmosphere at home to Butleigh 2nd XI next weekend with the prize been promotion provided that at least thirteen points can be secured during the course of the match.