WELLINGTON stormed to a 254-run home victory over bottom side Butleigh in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League.

Wellington, put into bat by Butleigh, who were already relegated, hit 384-8 in their 50 overs before bowling out the visitors for a paltry 130 in 25.3 overs.

Star batter for Wellington was Sri Lankan Lakshan Edirisinghe who hit exactly 100 off only 59 balls, with 15 fours and three sixes.

Wellington School student Stian Smith made a welcome return to the side, scoring 63 off 33 balls, Jacob Hurry scored 55, skipper Arron Campbell 44 not out., opener George Ruell 33 and Toby Stirzaker 25.

Sam Bilsborough finished with the best figures of 2-61 as Butleigh’s bowlers struggled while Ryan Church took 2-67.

Any thoughts of Butleigh making a game of it quickly disappeared against Wellington’s opening bowlers with Stirzaker (3-57) and Luke Desave (4-37) taking out their top order. Edirisinghe took 1-7 in three overs and Andy Hurry 1-12.

Butleigh’s top batter was A Drew who, coming in at No 9, scored 37 while Will Edmondson scored 19, the pair sharing in a stand of 34 for the ninth wicket in a losing cause.

Ironically, Butleigh took five points from the match which enabled them to move off the bottom, leaving Shapwick and Polden propping up the table after they crashed to 65 all out at Taunton Deane.

Meanwhile, the Deane and Ilminster maintained their battle at the top of the table - they both have the same number of points with one game to play - with victories over Shapwick (by ten wickets) and Temple Cloud (by 96 runs).

Wellington’s last game of the season is away to Shapwick on Saturday, August 30, when they will be looking for their third successive victory. The Deane play away to Butleigh while Ilminster are away to Yeovil.