Wellington Cricket Club

At this evening’s SCL Management Committee meeting the structure that will be used for the 2011 season in respect of league divisions was signed off and passed into the League’s constitution – a linear structure of twelve divisions will operate in 2011.

For example this change would see the 2nd XI playing in SCL Division Four in 2011 – all teams will be free flowing and are to be allowed to find their own levels in time.

The exact mechanism is that the 2010 season will finish on Saturday 28th August, promotions and relegations will be calculated as if there was to be no change and then the new twelve division continuous structure will be applied.

More exact details will follow in the autumn.

Wellington batted second for only the second time this season and carried off a fine, if a little nervy, four wicket Somerset League Division One win at second placed Westlands last weekend to regain third place in the division and Paul Short’s side are now 69 points behind leaders Taunton Outcasts with five games to go and a visit to the Civil Service Club side beckons on the first weekend in August.

As for this game Westlands opted to bat first on winning the toss and were well served by their numbers two, three and four after Scott Davey had held a chance with the score on 27 to get rid of Davis – who had made a ton at Wellington back in May – off of Michael Gill (1-26 in seven overs).

Boucher with 33, Gundry with 35 and Dyer with 42 all played good hands, but none of them went on to play the decisive innings that the home side needed to get to the 230 run mark that they set themselves, but at 122-2 with 15 overs to go, a strong, deep batting line up and a fast outfield on offer they should have done better than 172 all out – as it was Wellington’s fine spin attack dismantled the Westlands side as they added only another fifty runs for the loss of eight wickets as Paul Short, Rob Moysey and Max Capaldi spun their way through – Short with 1-28 in 7 got things going when he induced Boucher to tickle one behind to Aks Latifi – who kept wicket well for Wellington – and then Moysey took a fourth five wicket bag of the SCL season with 5-35 in 10.1 overs as he weaved his leg spinner’s web to great effect, an Aks Latifi stumping and fine boundary catches by Max Capaldi and Jake Nichol rounded off a fine effort from Moysey.

Capaldi with 3-37 in 8 overs gave a lesson in classical off spin as he bowled two with great deliveries that dipped late and another Aks Latifi stumping did the job for Wellington as they saw Westlands off for 172 with eleven balls to spare.

Westlands knew they had to win to maintain their push for the SCL title and came at Wellington hard, but Paul Short and Michael Gill resisted and then dominated with a stand of 83 in 22 overs that was ended when Gill – who had cover driven very well once more – was LBW for 45.

Mark Salter joined Short and played well to the off side until he was a second LBW victim for 17.

Short made a capital 65 and so nearly saw the job done when he was fourth out on 150.

Then a wobble set in as Wellington saw their score dip to 166-6 with two overs to go and tenacity was required in large doses and it came through Max Capaldi who whipped two fours off of Dyer to calm the Red and Blacks nerves, but he was run out for 11 and it was still nip and tuck, but Marc Holloway and Neil Hendy got the scores level and then saw Wellington home by four wickets with two balls to spare when Holloway came down the track and drove Dyer over the top for four.

This was a great comeback from the defeat at North Petherton last time out and has given the side a chance of exerting title style pressure in the latter stages of this season.

A home match with Staplegrove is next up.

Paul Short (Capt), Mark Salter, Rob Moysey, James Bath, Neil Hendy, Max Capaldi, Scott Davey, Aks Latifi (Wkt), Michael Gill, Jake Nichol and Marc Holloway.

Depart from Courtland Road Car Park at 11.45am for a 1.45pm start.

Contact Paul Short for details.

Wellington slipped to fourth in Division One of the Somerset League as a result of losing at North Petherton last weekend and they swap places with the Bridgwater side as a result.

The Red and Blacks never really recovered from losing the toss and the tight medium pace option offered by Heath (1-19 in 12 overs) applied a tight rein on Wellington.

Three runs out could be ill afforded by Wellington, but these gift wickets went the way of North Petherton and they did not say no.

Mark Salter’s 27 was the best offering of the Wellington innings as well as Max Capaldi’s gutsy 19, but Petherton skipper Irish with 4-12 in 8.2 overs snuffed out Wellington for 108 in 42.2 overs.

Michael Gill bowled a fast and hostile spell and saw that Petherton were reduced to 28-3 in 12 overs and with Paul Short getting the other wicket a home collapse was possible, but Heath completed a fine all round game with 30no and Petherton keeper T.Williams with 40no saw them home without further loss and with an unbeaten 82 run fourth wicket stand to boot.

North Petherton took a full 35 points and Wellington eight.

Westlands away is next up for the side.

Barrington – bottom of Somerset League Division One and without a win all season – proved to be tough to dislodge, but in the end Wellington saw them off by 61 runs at home last weekend and collected full points for a second successive week and completed a league double for a second successive week to keep up their renewed pressure at the top end of the division.

With a hard dry track and a a brown, parched outfield on offer Paul Short opted to bat first and it was the Wellington skipper and Michael Gill who added a calm and collected 42 runs for Wellington’s opening wicket, but this calm was gone when Short was adjudged to have been caught behind for 21.

Gill was run out in most unfortunate circumstances when backing up for 24 and Wellington’s hopes of going to town on the Barrington attack were not coming to fruition and when Aks Latifi was bowled for 22 Wellington were 78-4 in 26 overs and with 19 to go needed something.

That something came from a quality show of counterattacking batting from Rob Moysey who cracked 89no with 2 sixes and ten fours as he, Marc Holloway, Thom Trott, Neil Hendy and Max Capaldi all did great work to add 133 in the last 19 overs and ensure full batting points for Wellington when they not assured.

Barrington’s openers Towill and Redwood guided their side to 50 without loss in 16 overs and this gave Wellington plenty to think on – the away side were behind the rate, but had all their batting resources in hand and this meant they could have a go if they needed to, but Neil Hendy prized out Redwood caught behind and trapped French LBW next ball to settle Wellington nerves.

Barrington’s batting this season has been characterised by a series of alarmingly low scores and Hendy and Michael Gill – in his second spell – saw this occur again as 93-4 became 112-9 with Hendy taking 4-27 and Gill 3-52, Max Capaldi had bowled with great control to go for only 11 runs in seven overs.

Last pair for Barrington – Lazenby and M.Brain – added a riotous 36 runs for the tenth wicket as they hit seven fours and a six, but the fun was ended with Jake Nichol’s boundary catch and victory was secured for Wellington with 5.1 overs left.

A tougher nut to crack will be North Petherton and this away match is next up.

Wellington played themselves back into a decent Somerset League Division One position with this fine 73 run win at Weston-Super-Mare side Belvedere last weekend when they did the double over a side who started the game in joint fourth position them – Paul Short’s side are now in fourth place on their own and are fifty points behind top dogs Taunton Outcasts who had trouble in beating bottom side Barrington – having bowled them out for 63 they got home by just four wickets.

Belvedere asked Wellington to take first knock on a fine batting track and saw Paul Short and Michael Gill squeeze away any gain the home side may have had in winning the toss by adding 109 first wicket runs.

Gill made a fine 34 that saw him work the ball to leg very well and this was a knock that supported his skipper who made an excellent 78 with nine fours and a six as he cashed in on some wayward Belvedere bowling as the heat told on the home attack, Short also planted left arm spinner Taylor’s first ball for six and worked the ball around the fast paced outfield well for singles and twos, he was closing in on a ton when he was bowled by Taylor.

From then on Mark Salter played a pearl of an innings as he made 40 – after spending some time in the seconds and making a good number of runs there he was back with a bang and hit his runs in excellent time and had hit McCrea out of the ground when the young left arm seamer got his man next ball, but it had been a great hand by Salter.

Aks Latifi with a rapid 18 and further excellent knocks of 33 from Rob Moysey, 23 from Marc Holloway and 22 from Thom Trott not only added to Wellington’s total, but they were all made a good lick and gave Wellington a real chance of topping 300 – in the end the team had posted the second highest ever Somerset League/WEPL team total that a Wellington 1st XI had ever posted dating back to 1972.

Belvedere had had a chastening time in the field and only Watts with 3-47 seemed to have escaped the damage.

Belvedere had to give the 275 needed to win a go and they played Wellington’s opening attack of Michael Gill and Jake Nichol well enough, but Gill got Cooper to play at a widish delivery and he was caught behind by Aks Latifi who took four dismissals on the day and when Paul Short got one through Gullick’s defence Belvedere were 76-2 in 16 overs and this was the point for their skipper Chadwick with a fine 92 and Gadd with 35 to double their score for no further loss and this was causing Wellington some anxiety, but the excellent leg spin of Rob Moysey saw him take his third five wicket haul of the season in SCL matches as he spun through the Belvedere middle and lower order to take 5-51 in 12 overs, with Aks Latifi doing very well behind the stumps this combination saw the home side fall away from 150-2 to 201 all out with two balls to go.

Gill bowled twelve good overs and his 2-43 was vital in Wellington securing the win. 

Neil Hendy ended things with 2-24 in 6.4 overs and gave Wellington a 73 run win and next week they entertain bottom side Barrington when nothing other than 35 points will do!

Wellington remain fifth in Division One of the Somerset League, but have seen sides close the gap on them to now be part of a real squeeze in mid table following this disappointing nine wicket defeat on the road at Purnells last weekend.

Choosing to bat first saw Wellington never truly master the Paulton based side’s pitch and they were 40-5 in 17 overs with only Paul Short of the top five getting into double figures.

A gritty and vital sixth wicket stand of 51 between Rob Moysey and James Bath was the highlight of Wellington’s time with the bat as they held up the Purnells attack – Tucker with 4-36 in 12 overs was excellent.

Moysey held firm for 17 and Bath made a great 26 that saw him never be fearful of hitting over the top – the stand occupied some 22 overs, but was over in the space of two overs as Moysey was trapped LBW by Crocker (1-31 in 11 overs) and Bath was run out having hit the ball well, but straight to Tucker who spread himself to stop the ball and by this time Bath had committed himself to the run and he was out of his ground and not able to get back – a sad end to a fine innings from the teenager.

Richard Short hit a pleasant 15no, but Wellington were all out for 121 in 41.4 overs.

Purnells set about the 122 needed and got there in just eighteen overs as Chard with 41 and Crocker with 56no hit the ball long and handsomely and Redwood with 17no completed the job.

Wellington dropped four catches as Paul Short took the only wicket for Wellington who took seven points to Purnells 35.

Paul Short (Capt), Richard Short, Rob Moysey, Marc Holloway, Aks Latifi (Wkt), Michael Gill, George Hooper, James Bath, Jake Nichol, Adrian Lee and Thom Trott.

Depart from Courtland Road Car Park at 11.30am for a 1.45pm start.

Contact Paul Short for details.

Wellington slipped to fourth in Division One of the Somerset League and are now 25 points behind leaders Taunton Outcasts as the Red and Blacks fell to a second successive defeat against a newly promoted side.

The first ever league meeting between Wellington and Ashbrittle saw last season’s Division Two champions opt to bowl first and they made quick incisions into the Wellington line up as the score fell away to 53-5 in 20 overs with Andy Hill taking 3-29 in 12 fine overs and he was supported well by his side’s other bowlers – Jack Bradbury with 4-30 wrapped up the Wellington innings.

Michael Gill with a fine 60 saw that Wellington did recover from the score on 20 overs to see that the last five wickets added 109 runs to give Wellington something to bowl at – Thom Trott with 23 and Max Capaldi with 29 added 64 for the sixth wicket, but overall Wellington’s batting had not clicked for the first time this season.

Michael Gill and Adrian Lee bowled tightly for Wellington with Gill ending his first seven overs with figures of 1-4 and five maidens, Lee did great work with 2-38 in 11 overs as Wellington had Ashbrittle at 55-3 in 20 overs.

Jack Bradbury with a good 47 saw his side were always in contention, but he was caught behind by Aks Latifi off of Paul Short (2-40 in 12 overs) on the first ball after drinks and with Max Capaldi taking 2-22 in 7 overs Wellington were back in the driving seat with Ashbrittle at 120-7 and needing around 40 in 8 overs and they did not look back from there as Alfie Venner-Woodcock and Ben Franks added an unbroken 43 eighth wicket runs to see them take the local derby by three wickets and a full bag of points.

Wellington took fifteen points and with four away matches in the next five they will have to put the hard yards in on the road as they look at get back to where they were just two games ago.

Paul Short (Capt), Marc Holloway, Rob Moysey, Alec Short, Adrian Lee, Aks Latifi, Michael Gill, James Bath, Neil Hendy, Max Capaldi and Thom Trott.

Meet at Pavilion at 12.30pm for a 1.45pm start.

Contact Paul Short for details.