Wellington played their first competitive action of the new season on the May Day Bank Holiday Monday when they took part in the National T20 Club Competition by way of a three way round robin with higher ranking WEPL sides Taunton St Andrews, who hosted, and Taunton Deane.

The opening game was between the hosts and the Red and Blacks who asked the Saints to bat first on winning the toss and there was a good start when Zandre Swartz, who played as an outfielder, took a fine catch off of Ian Hewson and this saw the back of the dangerous Hayman for just one.

Alley and Regan, however, were not fazed by this as they added 113 second wicket runs with knocks of 91 and 63 between them as they played some good T20 cricket.

Wellington did not let their game wane though as Paul Short and Arron Campbell bowled off spin well together and a good second spell from Luke Desave saw the runs capped late on as Saints made it to 193-4.

Aks Latifi and Zandre Swartz were quickly into their stride and both hit the ball cleanly and crisply with a 45 run opening stand.

Swartz – a practitioner of T20 cricket at the top level back in South Africa – was giving Saints some scary moments as he made 42 before being caught on the boundary’s edge.

Paul Short (42) and Luke Desave (15) continued this assault and at 105-3 Wellington were in the game in a full manner as they were up with the required rate, but Saints skipper Regan with 4-21 got the breaks his side needed to be sure they would go one up on the day.

Jack Beal with 13 continued the fight, but Wellington were all out for 151 with nine balls left having given the home side a real game and this fact was warmly acknowledged.