Wellington Sunday XI’s home friendly with Chard was washed away as Courtland Road took on the look a boating lake through the heavy and persistent rain that battered the ground after 24.1 overs had been bowled.
A dry morning had raised hopes that the better weather that the 2nd XI had finished in was going to linger long enough to get a game in and a prompt start was made at 2.30pm.
David Derrick won the toss – and had been the case the previous day – had no hesitation in asking the WECCC (Somerset Division) club to take first knock.
Phil Nicholls delivered another quality opening spell for the Red and Blacks Sunday side as he reeled off 10 overs for only 20 runs and he took all the wickets to fall.
He got good bounce and carry off the pitch and brought keeper Paul Short into the game often.
A peach of a yorker accounted for Fussell and Cleal looped one up to David Marshall at short cover and the South Somerset team were in a spot of bother at 28-2.
Nicholls provided some testing moments for Shire and Crew – the Chard pair who were unbeaten when the rain came down.
Kevin Symons bowled well without reward at the other end in his six over spell before he gave way to Gary Tillett, who, despite only been able to bowl two overs before picking up a minor back niggle, did enough to put doubt into the batsmen’s minds.
David Marshall and Josh Hancock were the Wellington attack when the rain came down and even with an early tea having been taken it was obvious that no resumption would be possible as the ground flooded and many puddles appeared all over the outfield with even the wicket been awash as sawdust that had been laid to assist the bowlers as they landed was been washed away on highly mobile water.
The match was formally abandoned at 5.00pm.