Wellington 1st XI will defend their Baker Cup Shield title as they bowed out of the main competition on Monday evening when they were beaten by nine wickets by Chard at Courtland Road.

Paul Short opted to bat first and saw Rob Moysey and Mark Salter add thirty for the first wicket, but this accounted for a third of Wellington’s total as the excellent left-arm spin of Dalwood realised figures of 5-7 in 5 overs as he sent the middle order into a spin.

Moysey was caught at long-off for 20 and Salter was seventh out for 27, but only Rowan Varkevisser with 15 made double figures after the openers had.

Sochon with 3-15 in 4.4 overs was good value for his figures too as Wellington were dismissed for 90 with two balls left.

That Chard won by nine wickets does not tell the full story as Simon Rudd bowled an excellent spell of five overs and took 1-17, but Wellington were always fighting to stay in the game and with Glentworth making 58no and Dalwood 35no to go with his five wicket haul Chard won with 3.1 overs to spare.

The Terry Mockridge Shield will commence on Tuesday 26th May with fixture details to be found in upcoming match reports and at www.sportinwellington.co.uk/cricket