Wellington 3rd XI should have seen this game, in Division Seven Red of the Somerset League, home last weekend when they entertained Taunton Deane CC’s fifth string at Sampford Arundel CC having fought back well with the ball and been given an opening partnership more than a hundred runs the Red and Blacks third string fell away to lose all their wickets for 52 runs.

Richard Henwood asked the Deane to bat first on winning the toss and saw P.Goss and Matthews launch into a 90 run opening stand that saw both play well and make 33 and 68, respectively.

It was Connor Wickenden’s left arm spin that, once more, did a trick for Wellington as he bowled Goss and saw Tom Shannon take a good catch at cover on his way to taking 3-48 in 8 overs.

Tom Shannon took 3-36 in eight overs as he found himself on a hat-trick in his second spell bowling with good pace throughout.

Cam Sentance and Charlie Burrough both bowled with good pace too.

It was Richard Henwood’s accurate seamers (6.2-2-10-3) that dismantled the Deane’s innings from 166-5 to 177 all out.

Chasing this score was set about through an opening partnership of Simon Burrough and Richard Henwood and they played gloriously in compiling 103 for the first wicket as Burrough made 49 and was within an ace of a half century when he flicked one to square leg from spinner Lusk (2-28 in 8) and was caught.

Henwood was out at 114-3 for a well-made 34 and that began the slide.

David Derrick and Charlie Burrough came together at 125-6 and added fourteen vital seventh wicket runs in a stand that was gaining some momentum, but when Derrick was bowled for 11 by accurate medium pacer Hughes (4-15 in 5) this enterprise was over.

Burrough made 14 to complete a good first appearance for Wellington in two years as he got Wellington past 150 with Marc Bright for company in a stand of 15 for the ninth wicket, but when he was out with the score at 154-9 only one more run was added before Haque ended matters in favour of the visitors.

Wellington have three to play due to having a game in hand as they visit North Petherton 2nd XI this weekend, host Chard 3rd XI on the Bank Holiday Saturday and then close out the 2021 season at home to potential divisional champions Stoke St Gregory on Saturday 4th September.