WELLINGTON’S hopes of pulling off the season’s double over leaders Taunton Deane in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League were dashed when they lost at home by 104 runs.

Wellington beat the Deane by 110 runs at the Convent Field at the end of May, scoring 283 all out before bowling out their rivals for 173 with Luke Desave taking 4-40.

However Wellington, chasing 329 to win in the return match at more than six runs an over, never seriously looked like reaching a difficult target.

The Deane, who won the toss and decided to bat first, scored 328-9 in their 50 overs with all their top-order batters scoring runs with Tenessee Harlow hitting 60, while Sam Burgess made 51, Harry Smith 47, Nick Pepper 35, and Edward Mellor and Bertie Michael 34 each. Toby Stirzaker took 3-56 in eight overs and skipper Arron Campbell 3-59 in ten.

Wellington lost Desave and Nathan Roberts when adding 37 before opener George Ruell (46) and Lakshan Edirisinghe (54) shared in a third wicket stand of 58, taking the score to 94. But after these two were parted Wellington lost wickets at regular intervals as the run-chase became more difficult with only wicketkeeper Callum Hendy (49) offering any real resistence as the home side were bowled out for 224. Last man Andy Hurry scored 16 off only 19 balls although the cause was already lost.

Burgess was Man of the Match for the Deane, being their most successful bowler with 5-48 in ten overs while Sunil Lachit took 2-32 and J W Brehaut 2-36.

It was Deane’s tenth win in 14 matches while Wellington suffered their seventh loss of the season, this defeat being the third in succession.

Elsewhere, Deane’s title rivals Ilminster scraped home by one wicket against bottom side Butleigh to keep up the pressure.