NEIL Hendy became the second Wellington player to be run out on 96 on the opening day of the new cricket season.

The unlucky Hendy scored his runs off 121 balls before his unlucky dismissal as Wellington 2nd XI began the season with a four-wicket home victory over Middlezoy in Division Two of the Somerset Cricket League.

Middlezoy, put into bat on the Playing Field, scored 229 all out in 37-3 overs with Max Wilkins being their top batter with 47. Nat Brown was 41 not out while James Lacey made 36. Middlezoy were 29-3 at one stage before recovering to set a respectable target.

Hendy (3-36) and veteran all-rounder Rob Moysey (3-68) spearheaded the bowling attack for Wellington, while there were wickets too for Macca Campbell (2-21), Tom Hopkins (1-31) and Alex Derbidge (1-42).

Hendy and Derbidge (9) put on 37 for the opening wicket. Wellington’s other main run-makers were Oli Beale (40), Nick Roberts (29 not out), Ollie Hunt (24), Mark Salter (10) and Moysey (10 not out) as the home side knocked off the runs in 38.3 overs.

Wellington only encountered problems during a spell when they lost three wickets in adding 16 runs.

Middlezoy’s wickets were shared between Nathan Pappard (2-33) , Taylor Flitton (1-25), Harrison Bishop (1-41) and Alex Pomeroy (1-53).

Wellington took 35 points and sit on top of the table along with Burnham on Sea and Broadway and Horton who also pulled off opening day victories.

Wellington make the short trip to play in Taunton against Staplegrove’s first team in a match on Saturday, May 10. Staplegrove, once one of the big club sides in the county, slumped to an eighth-wicket away defeat against Broadway and Horton on the opening day of the season.