Wellington Sunday XI recorded their first win of the season last weekend and at the same time got away to a great start in their Three Counties League Division Two campaign.

With Alec Short taking up the captaincy mantle for this style of game the Exeter based side opted to bat first and enjoyed some early gains as Silk and Sri Lankan player Sanjay put on 39 for the opening wicket.
Wellington’s opening pair of Andy Mitchell and Tom Trott bowled delightfully at times as both gained decent movement and the ball seamed about all over the shop. This pair went wicketless, but they bowled well in tandem.

The two Adrians – Lee and Hearn – broke the back of Whimple’s innings as they claimed 4-15 and 2-24 respectively. Lee bowled at brisk medium pace and deserved his rewards as control reigned supreme in his spell.
Hearn – fresh from his 1st team debut at Street the previous day – bowled another tight and demanding spell as he took 2-24 in 8 excellent overs.

Rob Moysey added some variety to the Wellington attack as his leg-spinners realised 1-36 in seven overs. Wellington had restricted Whimple to 139-7 in 40 overs although Williams with 38 and old pro Fletcher with 21 had given the visitors a glimpse of something larger than they ended up with.

Wellington’s reply started horribly as they found themselves 1-2 in the second over, but teenager Chris Kittow had the stability to make a most positive 42 as he anchored the Wellington innings brilliantly. He took the attack to Sanjay before been bowled, but he had done a fine job for Wellington.

James Dyke was looking set before a running catch from Silk accounted for him, but Kevin Crout and Alec Short added 43 for the fifth wicket and saw Wellington virtually home and dry. Crout made a personal best of 32 that saw him play himself in before using his feet well to the spinners to loft over the top, though this was how he eventually got out as he tried to loft Sanjay and was caught and bowled, but he had done a fine job for the Red and Blacks.

Tom Trott joined Alec Short and they saw Wellington home by five wickets with the skipper making 29no and Trott 12no as fifteen points came the home side’s way with Whimple taking nine.

Next week sees David Derrick back in charge of the team as friendly competition is resumed at Holford and the team next enter Three Counties League action at the end of June when Taunton Deane visit Courtland Road.