Wellington’s good run in the Somerset Cricket Board’s Major Knockout Cup for 2017 ended in the quarter finals at WEPL Premier One side Bridgwater in dark cloud and steady rain last Thursday evening when the home side put their foot down as they chased 108 to win to avoid any need for run rate calculations or the like.

Wellington opted to bat first on winning the toss and had to contend with a most useful Bridgwater bowling attack that was augmented by the presence of former Somerset CCC player Alfonso Thomas alongside some decent Club players.

Run scoring was difficult, but Kayden Hine with 22 and skipper Luke Desave with 21 added 38 good second wicket runs for the Red and Blacks before Thomas produced as a good a series of three consecutive balls as you will see and took a hat-trick and sent Wellington to 48-4 and then latterly 56-6 and the home side were well and truly on top.

Much credit goes to Jack Beal and Rob Moysey for their stand of 49 for the seventh wicket that saw Beal make a robust 27no and Moysey an equally defiant 18 as Wellington fought back to make 107-8 in their 20 overs.

C.Skidmore with 3-14 and Thomas with 4-17 had bowled very well for Bridgwater.

With cloud and rain approaching Bridgwater had to get away to a fast start to avoid any complications with run rate or even having the match abandoned and re-scheduled.

Through Hallaran and C.Skidmore they did so, although they lost Hallaran for 22 to Lewis Sparks who uprooted his off stump in a good spell of seam bowling to make an inroad with the score on 37.

Neil Hendy trapped Barrett clean in front with the score on 54, but Skidmore was not going to hang around and made a clean 60no with six sixes to see that his side progressed into the semi finals at the end of July with just over half of their overs unused.

Having recorded wins over both Taunton and Taunton Deane in this competition to go with a Terry Mockridge Memorial Shield semi final appearance and a continuing interest in the National T20 Club competition Wellington can be pleased with their efforts in the short form of the game in 2017.