Wellington moved further on in T20 knockout competition last week as they sealed a quarter final spot in the Somerset Cricket Board’s Major KO Cup with this 21 run win over WEPL Premier Two (Bristol and Somerset) Division side Taunton Deane at home as they withstood a late Deane onslaught that took the visitors closer to the total they required than might have been the case given a poor start to their innings.

Wellington decided to bat first and, after losing a wicket early, saw Kayden Hine and skipper Luke Desave add 22 for the second wicket before Hine was bowled by a sharply turning deliver from Rana who saw spin was used by the Deane from the off.

On Hine’s departure Aks Latifi arrived at the crease and with Desave saw that Wellington were approaching fifty and making steady progress…

That they added nearly one hundred runs in the last ten overs was due to Desave making a sparkling 77 as he and Mark Bray with a capital 24 added 72 for the fourth wicket and latterly Jack Beal and Luke Vernon got Wellington to a fine 142-5 in 20 overs as they had the momentum on what was a hot evening.

Taunton Deane’s innings got off to the worst possible start as Jack Beal caught and bowled Harry Smith from the first ball of the innings and when he bowled Jack Fraser later in that over the county town team was 0-2…

When Mark Bray accepted a simple chance at point in the next over, bowled by Arron Campbell, Deane were 1-3 and then 7-4 when Kayden Hine gave Campbell another wicket with a stumping.

To their credit Deane, though Chris McKee, rallied and he made a fine 48no with some crisp shots from spinners and seamers alike, but wickets for Dom Drew and Ian Hewson made Deane fall to 76-6 and were seemingly out of the game, but with some clean hitting Henry Mellor made 40no and gave Wellington something to think on as the game came close to ending and with 33 needed from the last over Arron Campbell delivered a good closing effort for Wellington and they can now look forward to a visit to either Wembdon or Bridgwater in the last eight – they play this evening (Thursday 15th June) and the tie that Wellington will be part of is set to be played in the week commencing Monday 26th June.