Wellington were finally able to spend some time outdoors as the better weather let a Taunton and District Sunday League Division A game take place at WEPL Premier One club Bridgwater last Saturday; the game also served as a pre-season prep game too as the home side sent out a team of 2nd/3rd XI standard and the Red and Blacks were of 1st/2nd XI standard…

Arron Campbell asked Bridgwater to bat first given that three days of warm spring sunshine had given way to thundery and warm conditions and with rain falling on the way to Bridgwater and on arrival at the Parks a 30 overs per side game starting at 2.00pm was agreed on…

The weather then let the players go about their business with a thunderstorm not breaking until the game was done with.

Bridgwater got away to a measured start as Hill and Salt added 12 for the first wicket which was ended when Hill speared one high in the air and Lewis Sparks held a good catch as he moved in from deep point.

This gave Ian Hewson a wicket against his old side and he had a second one when he bowled Locke for a duck and there was a wicket for Will Derrick as Ben Evett, in his new role as a wicket keeper, made good ground to his right and Habberfield was caught and at 18-3 Bridgwater were in a spot of bother, but through Salt with a solid 24 and Keith who was last out for 33 saw that the home side’s score rose nicely with a fourth wicket stand of 55 which was ended when Jake Nichol removed Salt with a good dipping delivery.

Rob Moysey made sure of an end of season gong already as he took a hat-trick in taking 3-18 in four overs late as Rossiter, Windsor and Skidmore were all sent back to the pavilion in successive balls and at 102-7 Bridgwater were listing, but Ranson with 22no from number nine saw that they would set Wellington 138 to win after tea as Lee Nichol and Jack Beal also contributed to a good display with the ball from Wellington.

After the usual top tea effort from the home Club Wellington set about chasing 138 and it was tough going against the height and bounce gained by Bridgwater skipper Higgins and the skiddy approach from his new ball partner Hubbard who has crossed town so to speak from Wembdon CC and he had a wicket first ball.

Arron Campbell and Mark Bray resisted all that came their way, but run scoring was hard and when Bray was caught behind off of Rossiter and Campbell was caught at second slip Wellington were 21-3 in eleven overs.

Aks Latifi and Jack Beal were brought together at this point and changed the course of the game with their 52 run stand for Wellington’s fourth wicket as Latifi made a crucial 33 with four fours and a towering six; he was the last wicket Wellington lost when he was yorked by Windsor.

Jack Beal was in tremendous form on the day as he and Lewis Sparks propelled Wellington to a six wicket win with some excellent crisp hitting as he hit six fours and two sixes on his way to 49no with the sensible play of Sparks realising 20no and the win was Wellington’s with one over to spare.

Good wishes for a speedy recovery go to Bridgwater bowler M.Skidmore who suffered a gashed hand when receiving a hard hit shot straight back at him and this required a visit to hospital…

For their efforts ref the Sunday League element of the game Wellington collected nineteen points and Bridgwater six.