Cheddar 2nd XI 293-4 Wellington 2nd XI 113
Wellington 2nd XI’s good recent run that had seen two maximum points wins garnered came to a shuddering and abrupt halt at Cheddar on Saturday when they were thumped by a massive 180 runs and lost ground on the side immediately above them in Division One of the Somerset League’s Reserves competition.
Wellington were greeted with a poor looking pitch and one that promoted Richard Henwood to ask Cheddar to bat first when he won the toss and to start with his side did a good job as Cheddar’s openers Parfitt (27) and B.Stacey (43) led charmed lives, but the Red and Blacks second string shelled several chances and were made to pay for these later on.
Jake Nicol got rid of Parfitt when he tried to throw the kitchen sink at one and the game was balanced nicely, but D.Stacey with 120no played a punishing innings as he took advantage of some ragged Wellington play in the latter stages and with his skipper Kent (74) they took Cheddar to the brink of 300.
Alex Troake with 2-18 got a couple of late wickets and George Coate was also successful, but by one run Cheddar had failed to equal the highest ever score conceded by Wellington 2nd XI in a league match.
Wellington’s day was about to get a whole lot worse when they lost a wicket to the first ball of their reply, but a gritty 45 run second wicket stand between Kevin Crout (14) and George Coate (22) repaired the damage somewhat.
Coate was dismissed when he stopped the shot and looped one back to the bowler.
Wellington’s innings then subsided although Jake Viney and Sam Murdock hit scores of ten each and they found themselves at 73-9 and staring down the barrel of a large loss, but through a last wicket stand of 40 between David Derrick (31no) and Alex Troake (5) Wellington did keep Cheddar at bay.
Derrick hit five fours in his knock and was top score on the day for Wellington and Troake gave him great support as they – in effect – got Wellington two batting bonus points, but when Russett got one through Troake’s defences the game was over and Wellington had a 180 run loss and just nine points to take home.
For Cheddar Tullett with 5-15 did the bulk of the damage.
