Wellington 2nd XI turned the form book on it’s head by thrashing Wembdon 2nd XI away last weekend in a fine all-round display of batting, bowling and fielding.

The home side was second going into this Somerset League Reserves Competition Division One fixture and Wellington ninth, having lost four in a row and with no win since the opening day of the season, but this was all put to one side as the Red and Blacks second string ran the show from start to end.

Sure – Richard Henwood won a more than useful toss, but his side backed each other up all match and gained the dividends on offer.

Wembdon were torn apart by Adrian Lee and Martin Short who reduced them to 35-8 – Lee gained much swing and seam as the cloudy and cool conditions – only drizzle affected this match in stark contrast to the conditions back home – suited him and he bowled as well as he may well have ever done as he hit the line and length required from the off and took 4-18 in 12 fine overs.

Short – with his left-arm round medium pacers – took 3-30 as he combined the roles of stock bowler with wicket taker too as he gave Wembdon nothing to hit and he was handsomely rewarded.

Had it not been for Parker and Coetzee with a ninth wicket stand of 22 and then Parker and Rawles with a last wicket offering of 23 then the home side would have been in deeper trouble than the 80 all out in 31.4 overs they eventually mustered.

Richard Henwood and Richard Short wrapped things up with a wicket apiece and Wellington had ten overs to face before tea.

In that time Trevor Brooks and Liam Kubicki added 22 solid runs for the loss of Kubicki.

Kevin Crout joined Brooks and they saw things out to the tea break with no further alarms for the Red and Blacks second string.

Crout had made it to 10 before he looped one to Parker at gully from Wembdon skipper Jenkins and at 37-2 Wellington had to be watchful, but through Brooks who closed on 42no and Richard Short with 16no a full tally of 35 points was gained and the total required passed in 19 overs.

Wellington stay ninth and take on Frome at home this weekend and if this sort of performance can be produced again a third win of the season is more than possible.