Wellington travelled to the Civil Service club on Saturday knowing that they could not afford to lose to the team that was place one place below them in Division One of the Somerset League.

Outcasts opted to bat first on a hard dry track and they acquitted themselves well as Wellington’s only wicket in the first 25 overs came when Glinn top edged Tom Trott and Stuart Currall accepted an easy chance.Wellington then had to toil somewhat as Jackson with 67 and Pengelly with 32 added 70 for the second wicket. Adrian Lee bowled with good line and length and passed the bat often, but was not rewarded with a wicket.

Gary Tillett brought Wellington rewards with his 3-50 in 12 overs. He trapped both Jackson and Pengelly in front of the stumps and he stemmed the flow of runs at the right time for Wellington. Tom Trott came back on and claimed a wicket with the first ball of his spell and he ended up with 3-29 in 8 overs.
Wellington has reigned things in, but were still needing the thick end of 200 to win and this would not be easy.

However, it was made to be easier than was thought at tea, Mark Salter and Rob Moysey put on a well played 87 run opening partnership. Moysey matched his score against Minehead the previous week in making 44 in 66 balls with 8 fours and skipper Salter made a fine 58 in 92 balls with 9 fours.

The Outcasts attack was considerably weakened when left-arm paceman Nurcombe was forced to retire with a leg injury and they were forced to re-think their strategy. Salter was given out caught when there appeared to be some doubt as to the legitimacy of the appeal, but it was upheld. This did not distract Wellington as Mark Saunders and Stuart Currall kept up the pressure with some fine shots and inspired running between the wickets.

Saunders – having found form in the Baker Cup demolition of Bishops Lydeard earlier in the week – made 23 in only 33 balls as he worked the ball around well. Currall stayed until the end and made a fine hand of 36no. His forceful style of batting garners runs when they are perhaps not available to others.

The turning point came when Tom Trott launched a quite unbelievable assault on Outcasts Australian off-spinner Pedler as he took 23 runs from his eighth over in his innings of 26 in 12 balls. Pedler had conceded 37 runs from seven overs, now he had let 60 runs go in 8 overs. Although Trott was out with 5 needed, Currall and Simon Rudd finished the job with style and a handsome six wicket win was Wellington’s and 31 points came with it. Four overs were spare when the winning total was passed.

This was an absolutely crucial win for Wellington and they must carry this forward to the home match with Chew Magna this weekend.