Wellington Cricket Club

The same weather equation was in action at Wellington as the 2nd XI knew that they had to get thirteen points from their last Somerset League Reserves Competition Division Two match of the season to be absolutely sure of promotion as third placed Wembdon 2nd XI would surely get a full quota from their match at Ilton, provided it was played. As it was this was the case, so Wellington were glad to have got enough play in and points on the board before the rain poured down and saw the match abandoned as a draw.

James Dyke asked Butleigh to take first knock on winning the toss and was confronted by a stubborn opening pair in the form of Foyne and Andrews as they added 94 for the first Butleigh wicket.
None of the first four bowlers employed could break through, despite having respectable enough figures.
The introduction of Chris Rudd was the spark that got the game going for Wellington as he removed Foyne caught by Julian Jones for 29 and with just one more run added Andrews was run out for 62 by Richard Henwood.
Wellington now had a way into the game and had to exploit it. Rudd was explosive with the ball taking 4-41 in 11 overs as Butleigh began to lose momentum.
Had Greenwood (40no) been removed when the chance came Wellington may well have been chasing less than 150, but he took his chance and got his team to 177-7 by tea.
Andy Mitchell took a couple of late wicket as Wellington found that they had just over half the points they needed to be sure of going up.

The Wellington reply was always in danger of not going the distance as the rain clouds gathered and it was a case of trying to ascertain exactly when the heavens would open.
Two wickets were lost by the time the score had reached 23, but Chris Rudd and joined Phil Nicholls and settled things down. Rudd had made 18 when he pulled a hamstring going for a quick single – he made his ground, but was unable to carry on.
James Dyke replaced Rudd and with 12no was at the crease with Nicholls (34no) when the rains came with Wellington needing 99 from 23 overs to win.
The match was called off as a draw at 6.30pm and both teams took 22 points from the match which was enough to give Wellington second place by a margin of ten points over Wembdon and they can now look forward to playing at the top level of Somerset League reserve team cricket for the first time since 2003.

The match ball for this match was kindly sponsored by LJ Irvine & Sons Ltd (01823 429123) and the club are very grateful for their input in this respect.