Wellington U15 176-2 North Petherton U15 132
Wellington’s senior youth team progressed to the semi-final of the County Youth Cup for their age group with a fine 44 run victory at a sunny playing field last Tuesday evening.
Tom Shannon, on calling correctly, had no hesitation in electing to have first use of a fine track and the best of the light so Nathan Roberts and Jacob Hurry set about building a useful target.
They had taken the score into the 30s when Hurry was first out for 17 which brought Callum Hendy to the crease and neither player then looked in trouble as they set about the visitors attack,keeping the score board ticking over and hitting the bad ball to the boundary to reach the half way stage on 71.
Hendy in particular then hit the accelerator as the run rate increased and this was only temporarily halted as Roberts was bowled for 45 in an innings including 8 x 4s.
Ben Wardell joined in the run fest and kept the momentum going as Hendy had to retire when passing 50 in a fine innings including 4 x 4s and 4 huge sixes which meant the home side added 105 runs in the last 10 overs posting a formidable 176-2.
Max Brodie took the new ball along with Roberts, but failed to make any inroads and it was only when Olly Hunt was brought into the attack that the 1st wicket went down.
Hallet and Gregory for the visitors then began to get the upper hand, until the former was run out by Roberts for 20, but this didn’t slow the chase as North Petherton reached 82-3 at the half way stage and well within striking distance.
Brodie returned to the attack, and ripped out the middle order taking 3-20 in his 4 overs and when Wardell took 2 wickets in an over, the game was all but done.
Daniel Thorne and skipper Shannon took a wicket each at the death as the hosts finished 44 runs in front and await the victors of the Taunton Deane vs Crewerne match, with a planned date of Tues 4 June at Wellington Playing Field, being the date and venue for their next game in this competition…