Wellington Sunday XI nearly pulled off a dramatic victory in South Devon on Easter Sunday when Devon League Division A side Brixham nearly made a hash of chasing 177 to win.

After losing the toss and been asked to bat Wellington had to weather the fine opening burst with the new ball as was sent down by both Orchard and Marr; Paul Short and Charlie Davies stood firm and with the aid of many extras Wellington were moving along well – the home side bowled some excellent deliveries, but also some really wayward fayre too as they shipped 64 extras and this nearly came back to haunt them.

Short was a little unlucky to be dismissed as he drilled one back only for Orchard to hang on to the chance.

Brixham continued to mix the sublime with the ridiculous as they sent down 49 wides and no balls, but still managed to make Wellington 66-6 in just 16 overs.

Luke Desave played a fine knock of 24 with 5 fours as he mounted a fightback – he and Rob Moysey added 36 for the seventh wicket and got the Red and Blacks into three figures territory.

Moysey with 19 and Ali Bunce with a gritty knock that realised 9 kept Brixham in the field for longer than they had expected to be, but at 140-9 still with 12 overs to go Wellington were on the rack somewhat, but last pair George Hooper and Adrian Lee added a vital 36 runs to get Wellington to 176 all out; Hooper made 22 and Lee 12no as they made Brixham sweat – Hooper with 3 fours and Lee with 2 frustrated the home side for 6.4 overs and added gloss to the Wellington effort.

Orchard with 3-17 and Upham with 2-7 were Brixham’s best bowlers in what had been a strange time in the field for them.

Luke Desave bowled an excellent seven over burst as he swung the ball both ways and was a real handful in taking 1-26 – a catch in the covers from James Bath gave him reward.

Adrian Lee was superb for Wellington as he took 2-16 in 7.5 overs and so nearly pulled it off for Wellington in his second spell; Northcott with a brutal 81 was the difference between the two sides, but when Lee caught him at short fine leg after his sweep shot went wrong off of Paul Short the game swung towards Wellington as the rate rose and wickets started to be lost by Brixham.

Catches by Paul Short, Ali Bunce and George Hooper brought Wellington to within sight of a tight victory and with Adrian Lee taking a last over wicket things were on a knife edge, but with two balls left Coysh whipped a ball off his legs to the backward square leg boundary to give Brixham a two wicket victory; one that they deserved overall, but one that they made harder than it should have been – Wellington put in a great shift in the field and with the ball and can carry that forward.