The bat was king as Wellington resumed their Taunton and District Sunday League Division A campaign with a run of four matches in the last month of the season and they fought all the way when they visited WEPL Bristol and Somerset side Minehead last weekend, but came away with a five wicket defeat in a game that saw 531 runs scored in 79 overs.

Paul Short won the toss and opted to bat first as Minehead applied a tight rein on things through Hayes and Buchanan and Wellington were one down at the end of the first over; Aks Latifi and James Bath added 56 for the second wicket as the runs started to flow all round the arena – Bath played the square cut well on his way to 30 before playing on to Hayes who, with 3-34 in seven overs, was excellent for Minehead.

Latifi indulged in a glorious exhibition of hitting as he smacked 102 with seven sixes and he is bearing down on breaking the six hits record again just twelve months after establishing it! – he hit the ball with power and reduced the Minehead attack to rubble at times as he added 137 fourth wicket runs with Paul Short who made a fine 80 himself as he played square of the wicket in a most pleasing fashion.

Wellington chipped away to make 264 all out at tea.

With a dry pitch and inviting distances to breach Minehead started their reply in the sort of form that Wellington had dished things out in as Squire with 47 was in danger of eclipsing Latifi with the distance he could hit the ball in; he and Tudball had added 100 for the opening Minehead wicket when Sam Murdock got him to play on.

J.Hurley joined Tudball and despite struggling against Rob Moysey and Paul Short and the spinning ball he held firm to make 42; Wellington were guilty of dropping catches and been ‘behind the eight ball’ at times in the field as Minehead collected singles at will.

Tudball made 111no as he made a classy ton, but there was still work to do for the home side as Sam Murdock came back for a second burst and collected four more wickets to take 5-35 all told, but a four from Minehead keeper Sidley-Adams with an over to go saw the Seasiders to 23 points and Wellington to 12.

Wellington entertain Taunton St Andrews next Sunday from 2.00pm.