Wellington 2nd XI continued their position as the leaders in Division Six South of the Somerset League with this 46 run win over Sparkford at home last weekend, but this was the biggest test that Alex Troake’s team has faced thus far and they passed it with flying colours.

Choosing to bat first on winning the toss on a genuinely hot day saw Alex Troake opt to bat first and a wicket was lost without a run on the board, but Oli Beale and Andy Hurry reacted well for their side by adding 69 second wicket runs with Beale making a crisp 30.

Hurry continued to within an ace of a personal half century before being third out at 99 for a well made 48.

Jacob Hurry contributed 10 before Lewis Sparks and Rob Moysey added 60 for the fifth wicket making durable knocks of 37 and 34.

The tail got their side to within one point of another maximum haul.

Sparkford would need 200 to win with Enticott and Tahir each taking three wickets.

Smith and Elsworth added 62 for the visiting side’s first wicket and were hard to budge despite Lee Nichol and Ian Hewson delivering another good spell with the new ball.

It was first change pair Tom Shannon and Alex Troake who prised the top four Sparkford batters out and then Wellington were able to exert pressure in terms of both taking wickets and stemming the run rate.

Sparkford’s middle and lower order were not going to give their wickets up cheaply, but the run rate rose and by the time Troake had 8-0-44-4 and Shannon 6-3-14-1 the Red and Blacks second string were on their way to a fifth win out of five games played in 2021.

Rob Moysey with leg spin to the tune of 8-1-24-2 saw off any lingering chance of Sparkford going for the win in tandem with Lewis Sparks who is in good fettle with both bat and ball at this time.

Wellington are seven points clear of Lydford and are 28 clear of third placed Broadway and Horton 2nd XI who they visit on Saturday 19th June.