Wellington Cricket Club

Taunton St Andrews retained the Three Counties League Division One title with this three wicket win at Wellington on Bank Holiday Monday, but not after been given a real game by a Red and Blacks side who fought tooth and nail to deny TSA their prize in what was an excellent game of cricket from start to end.

Thom Trott opted to bat first on winning the toss and Rob Moysey and Rupert Green repelled an accurate opening spell from Wadham and Vickery to post 22 for the first wicket, a stand that was ended when Wadham dipped one under Green’s bat.
Two more wickets were lost by the time score had reached 28 and Wellington were in a spot of bother as overs were running out as well, but things were assisted by a 47 run fourth wicket stand between Julian Smit and Paul Short who took the score into the seventies with some excellent running between the wickets and good shots as well.
Smit was looking dangerous, but was out in bizarre circumstances when TSA keeper Pavey stumped him from a rebound off of his pads for 20.
Short was still there though, but 75-3 became 93-7 as TSA turned the screw once again and Wellington were in trouble again, but a fine unbroken 47 run stand for the eighth wicket gave Wellington something to bowl at as Short and Thom Trott took the attack to the visitors in a way that had not occurred so far.
Short played the anchor role to make an effective 47no and Trott hit a rapid 28no to add these runs in seven or so overs.
TSA bowled a disciplined line and length, but were somewhat thrown off course by Short and Trott’s late onslaught.
T.Poole took 3-21 in 8 overs to record their best figures.

A large band of TSA supporters had gathered to see if their side could achieve the sixteen points they needed to be sure of keeping the league title and from the way that Alley and L.Poole started it was going to be a short innings as they laid into some wayward bowling to have 42 on the board within six overs, although a simple catch by Kevin Crout at extra cover gave Phil Nicholls a wicket.
Thom Trott kept it tight at the other end and removed Alley for 31 with a brute of a ball that re-arranged his castle.
Wellington then found their range as Bob Trott kept one end quiet in terms of letting only 21 runs go in 8 good overs of off-spin, whist son Thom kept the pace going at the other.
A simply great reflex catch from James Dyke behind the sticks saw the back of Wadham and with Berryman going LBW first ball TSA were now in some trouble of their own.
The partnership that settled their nerves was one of 41 for the fifth wicket between Jennings who played a fine knock of 30 that adhered his side’s innings together and TSA skipper Dimond who made 17 priceless runs as it turned out.
Julian Smit replaced Thom Trott and, in his last home match of the season, took 2-18 in 8 brisk and accurate overs.
He removed both Jennings and Dimond to rekindle Wellington’s hopes of a famous victory.
Ben Green bowled his leg-spinners to good effect once again and he was rewarded by a fine boundary catch from Phil Nicholls to render TSA 132-7 and still needing nine to win, but Pavey and Brice were good value for their short, but crucial stand of 12 that saw TSA over the winning line by three wickets with 4.3 overs to spare.
TSA took 16 points to Wellington’s seven.

Wellington completed their Sunday league programme for 2006 with this match and have taken 73 out of a possible 120 points from the six matches played in this competition, finishing with two wins, one tie and three losses from these six fixtures.

Their final position is to be determined after the last round of matches which take place on Sunday 3rd September.