A THUNDERSTORM just before the start ended Wellington 1st XI’s hopes of playing their first competitive cricket match of the season at the Playing Field last Saturday, writes David Derrick.

Wellington were set to play at home to Minehead in the West of England Premier League’s ‘C Bubble’ but having received the go-ahead to start recreational cricket as Covid-19 rules were eased, the game was abandoned due to rain without a ball being balled.

A storm around midday washed out the game as water pooled onto the outfield and made the square unplayable. In fact, all four games in the bubble were called off, not one of them managing to make a start.

Wellington and Minehead took one point each, as did the rest of the sides in the bubble. Next up for Wellington tomorrow (Saturday) is an away match against fellow Somerset Division side Wembdon in another C Bubble encounter.

WELLINGTON 2ND XI 167-6

ILTON 2ND XI 63-3

WELLINGTON 2nd XI travelled to Ilton 2nd XI, who play two divisions below the Red and Blacks’ second string, to start their Somerset League Playing Bubble Eleven programme of games now that the recreational game can commence.

And it was the side from Division Six South that held sway over the side from Division Eight South before the rain that had washed out the game at Courtland Road for the 1st XI arrived and had the final say.

The start was delayed by half an hour and this saw the game become a 30-over a side affair with Wellington skipper Alex Troake winning the toss and deciding to bat. Nathan Roberts and Trevor Brooks added 27 opening wicket runs for the Red and Blacks with Brooks in good form with a pacey 29.

Andy Hurry, Somerset CCC’s Director of Cricket, kept this momentum going with a knock of 26 and further dynamic efforts with the bat from Ryan Adams (21 with two sixes) and Nick Roberts (36 not out) saw Wellington to eight batting points achieved with assistance from Oliver Hansard on his senior debut. For Ilton, Mason, with 2-42, was their best offering with the ball.

Phillips with 18 and Mason with 23no got Ilton off well with an opening stand of 30 before Phillips fell LBW to Nathan Roberts and with Roberts collecting another wicket and Tom Shannon one prior to the game being abandoned as a draw this saw Wellington take 23 points from the game to Ilton’s 21.

Wellington 2nd XI host another Division Eight South side in Taunton Deane 5th XI in their next bubble game tomorrow (August 1).