Wellington had just about enough in the tank to hold on a for a narrow win over Sampford Arundel A in the SCCC Indoor League last Sunday afternoon as the Red and Blacks won their last league match of the 2005-2006 season by one wicket and so secured runners-up spot to champions Bridgwater in what was their best showing since winning the competition back in 1998-1999.

Sampford Arundel A batted first and maintained a healthy run-rate in the early stages of their innings despite Joe Hewton chasing a wide one and edging to Stuart Currall behind the stumps for seven to give Marc Holloway his first wicket of the afternoon. Ian Oliver started swiftly, but was bowled by Kevin Symons for ten as Symons bowled an excellent spell of 1-7 in 3 overs as he pulled Sampford Arundel A’s run rate back.

Dave Kittow (21) played the ball well around the arena and was looking set to retire when he chopped one onto his stumps from Bob Trott. Vince Milton lofted for six and tried the same shot when he was caught and bowled by Marc Holloway for 13.
Late impetus was added to Sampford Arundel A’s innings by John Hurley with his rapid 32.Thom Trott bowled him with two balls left and Wellington needed exactly 100 to win and claim runners-up spot from their local rivals.

Wellington’s reply did not start well as Thom Trott was palpably run out short of his ground by a great piece of fielding from John Hurley who threw down the stumps in one movement. Stuart Currall and Marc Holloway got Wellington moving again and Holloway was driving the ball nicely when he failed to keep one down and Joe Hewton took a fine airborne catch.
At 55-3 with five overs to go Wellington were still in the hunt for victory, but had lost half of their available batting resources. Kevin Symons reacted to this situation by going on the attack and he crashed 16 invaluable runs for his team. Laurence Burns yorked him, but the job had been done.
Stuart Currall joined Bob Trott with 17 needed from two overs, but Currall was caught and bowled by Ian Oliver, who enjoyed a rare bowl, for 29 and his 2-39 very nearly did the trick for his team.

So it was left to Trott snr to take Wellington to victory and he used all his experience to select the balls to hit and which ones to leave alone. After Currall’s dismissal thirteen runs came to leave four needed to win in the last over and a wide that cost three runs and a single ensured Wellington had won a very good match of indoor cricket by one wicket to collect nineteen points to Sampford Arundel A’s six and thus it was Wellington who collected second place.

Wellington’s 2005-2006 indoor season can be summed up by a great start and end and a lousy middle, but second place shows good form was shown at the ‘business end’ of the season and with the Knockout Cup to come on Sunday 2nd April that is another aspect of indoor competition that the team will be looking to excel in.Wellington have been drawn against Butterleigh at 3.30pm. Team will be announced in due course.