Wellington Cricket Club

Wellington retained the Terry Mockridge Memorial Shield with this 22 run win over Taunton Outcasts at Staplegrove last Tuesday evening when they repeated their success of twelve months earlier over the same team.

Wellington’s total of 145 was built around a fine 67 from skipper Paul Short who was well assisted by Mark Salter and Alex Sparks at the top of the order – Short was eighth out with the score on 143.

Wellington had looked like getting around 160 as James Brown hammered 15 quick runs, but Outcasts rallied through Knight (4-30 in 5 overs) to leave the Red and Blacks at 145 all out from the last ball of their 20 overs.

Three stumpings in the innings from Alec Short – the first off of Max Capaldi and two from the left-arm spin of Ben Orr – were pivotal in Wellington securing the Shield as they fielded very well indeed and the run out of Lee for 33 was the wicket that probably secured the win.

Rowan Varkevisser produced a fast straight delivery to get the second wicket to fall.

Lee and Graddon had added 60 for the third Outcasts wicket and were looking very dangerous, but they were prized apart as Wellington kept up the pressure – chipping away and not allowing Outcasts to generate momentum.

Paul Short with 2-28 and James Brown with 1-9 finished the job and Wellington took the honours.

They must now use this as a springboard to push up the Somerset League in the second half of the season.