Wellington 1st XI recorded their first Somerset League Division One win of the season by beating Taunton Outcasts at home last weekend – a 63 run win that gave the Red and Blacks 34 points and lifts them to fifth in the table after four matches.
Mark Salter – deputising for Rob Moysey – lost the toss and was asked to bat by Outcasts – last season’s Division Two runners-up – and Wellington made a cautious start as Salter and Phil Nicholls added a steady 15 run opening partnership.
Run scoring was hard against the steady Outcasts opening attack – Knight conceded only 17 runs from his eleven overs and De Save only let 15 go in a six over opening burst, although he let 35 go in five overs when he rejoined the attack later on.
At 50-3 in 20 overs Wellington were in a spot of bother and this signalled the time for attack and Alex Sparks and Mark Saunders added 81 for the fourth wicket.
Sparks hit six fours in a knock of 48 and was the perfect foil for Saunders to crack 80 with eight fours and two sixes.
This threw Outcasts off their stride as Sparks and Saunders added their runs together in 14 overs.
Forty-two further runs came through Saunders and Thom Trott (13no) as Wellington kept this injection of pace going.
The home side had got through to 181-6 at tea with 131 of these runs coming in 25 overs.
Taunton Outcasts had let things slip somewhat in this passage of play.
But any advantage that they seemed to have lost was restored by Tottle and Saffin who put on 45 runs for the opening wicket as runs came at a fast pace – nearly seven an over to be precise and Wellington had to do something quick.
David Marshall removed both openers, but even with this on Wellington’s side, they were still leaking runs at over five an over, but then the ceiling caved in on Taunton Outcasts innings as Richard Henwood trapped Weekes LBW for nine and then Marshall took three wickets in four overs to reduce the visitors to 83-6.
Henwood claimed another wicket on 1st XI debut and Gary Tillett wrapped things up with 3-14 in 5 overs as Outcasts were despatched in just 31.2 overs.
This was a fine win for Wellington and one that will give them some confidence going into next week’s home match with Purnells.
Wellington claimed 34 points and move up to fifth in the Division One table.

The match ball for this fixture was sponsored by Ablelec Ltd (01823 443875) and the team and club are grateful to them for their support in this respect.