WELLINGTON crashed to a 114-run defeat away to top of the table Temple Cloud in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League.

Chasing a target of 209 to win in 50 overs, Wellington slumped to 26-6 before some late, spirited batting took them to 94 all out.

Temple Cloud, who began the day having won their opening two matches, opted to bat after winning the toss and scored 208-7 in their 50 overs, recovering from 91-5.

Opener Lucas Hales was their top scorer, hitting 69 with six fours and two sixes. However, six of the home side’s batters failed to reach double figures before Cameron Raffan and Dan Nolan featured in an unbroken stand of 79. Raffan hit 41 in a patient 75-minute innings, scoring only three boundaries while Nolan made 36 with only four boundaries.

Wellington skipper Arron Campbell was the most successful bowler with 3-27 in ten overs and Sri Lankan Lakshan Edirisinghe took 2-37 - also in ten overs.

Hales had shown, however, it was possible to make runs but Wellington got off to the worst of starts, losing opener George Ruell, who scored 96 on the opening day of the season, with the score on only nine.

Fellow opener Arron Campball hung around for 41 minutes, scoring seven, but was one of six Wellington batters back in the pavilion with the score on only 24.

Callum Hendy (14) put on 33 for the seventh wicket with Nathan Yarde (28 not out) who then added 35 with Toby Stirzaker (19) for the ninth wicket before Wellington were finally out for under 100.

Temple Cloud’s opening bowlers Gary Filer took 5-31 in ten overs while George Fox snapped up 3-29 in eight overs and Rob Head 2-6.

Victory enabled Temple Cloud to collect their third successive haul of 20 points while Wellington finished with three.