Wellington Cricket Club

Wellington posted what was easily their best score of their Somerset League Division One season so far, but they fell short at Paulton last weekend when they ended up 20 runs short on a bakingly hot day and in the process took nineteen points to remain seventh in the table.

Purnells won the toss and batted first and incisive breakthroughs came from Rowan Varkevisser and Thom Trott and they reduced the home side to 30-2, but the bowling then became ragged as the heat took a toll on the attack and Brooks with 38 profited.

Paul Short bowled another composed spell of off-spin and returned his side’s best figures on the day as he took 3-53 in 12 good overs.

Simon Rudd was accurate as his medium pacers realised 1-29 in 7 overs, but Purnells were able to race through to 243-9 in their 45 overs through their skipper Crocker (65no) and Chard (38).

Rowan Varkevisser claimed another wicket to end with 2-60 in 12 overs and James Brown and Rob Moysey got one apiece.

Rob Moysey and Paul Short carried on from their record breaking stand at Fitzhead four days earlier as they added 48 for the opening Wellington wicket, but when Moysey was caught for 13 the Red and Blacks lost four wickets for eight runs to slump to 56-4.

Alex Sparks and Max Capaldi added 34 for the fifth wicket with Sparks making it to 19 before being caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Chard (3-58).

Capaldi played a capital knock of 71 with seven fours and a six and this was a personal best in Wellington colours – he was the last Wellington player to be dismissed.

James Brown smote a rapid twenty with two maxima and Dave Hewitt – playing for the 1st XI for the first time in seven years – cracked 10 in a 36 run eighth wicket stand, but Wellington were running out of overs despite making a fine attempt to get to the 244 required.

Simon Rudd and Rowan Varkevisser were unbeaten at the end of the Wellington innings and although seventeen came from the last over, it was not sufficient and Purnells were home by 20 runs.

Wellington face a local derby at home to Taunton Outcasts on Saturday.