A middle order and late order collapse cost Wellington the chance of posting a more competitive total at Wembdon in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier League last weekend, but what was on offer was so nearly enough anyway, however the home side squeezed over the line as their last wicket pair put on 16 runs to win the game.

Wellington had won the toss and batted first and this saw Sam Whitefield and Neil Hendy put on 42 opening wicket runs as they posted 34 and 14 respectively.

Jack Beal with 18 and Arron Campbell with 20 continued this solid play and with the score on 108-3 Wellington were looking forward with some confidence, but Serame, Wembdon’s overseas player, sent them crashing to 125 all out in 37.2 overs as he took 5-11 in 8.2 overs.

Wembdon commenced their chase and made good progress as Brockwell with 51 and Lowe with 20 took them to 73-2, but then it was their turn to collapse as 73-2 became 113-9 through Luke Desave (3-40), Jack Beal (1-16) and Neil Hendy (4-30) sending them skidding.

Watts and GIiddon came together with the score at 113-9, but had enough guile to get over the line to see that Wembdon took 16 points to Wellington’s 5 and this sets the Red and Blacks in fifth place with one more first half game to go.