WELLINGTON lost ground on leaders Ilminster in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier League after they went down to Wembdon by ten runs at the Lloyd and Whyte Cricket Ground, dropping from second to fourth, writes David Derrick.

Under immense cloud cover at the start of the game and even with a couple of short showers that laid some moisture on the deck, but never forced the players off the field, Wembdon were asked to bat first with Wellington hoping to use these conditions to their advantage.

Harris and Barnard got 28 on the board for Wembdon before Toby Stirzaker trapped the former LBW for 15 and when George Davis removed the latter through a Robbie Watts catch both the visiting openers were gone.

Wembdon then built an innings around a middle order that saw solid contributions on offer, rather than a blockbuster innings as Molhotra with 41 top scored with support from Lowe (31), Brockwell (30), Townsend (25) with Pigden (24).

Stirzaker with 3-35 in nine pacey overs was the star turn with the ball for Wellington as George Davis, Lakshan Edirisinghe and Robbie Watts each chipped in with two wickets and Arron Campbell wrapped things up for Wellington with Wembdon totalling 203 in 46.2 overs. and this represented an ask of just over 4 runs per over to achieve a fifth win of the season.

Wellington held eight catches in what had been a good effort in the field.

Wellington's reply did not start well as they slipped to 13-3 in the face of a telling opening burst from Brockwell and Pope who claimed five wickets between them all told. Edirisinghe was more reserved with the bat this time round, but still compiled 29 in 48 before being well stumped by Pigden with the score at 69-5.

This was the cue for Sam Whitefield and Arron Campbell to combine to take the score to 139 as they added 70 sixth wicket runs in fine style for the Red and Blacks with a mix of regular singles and twos that were supplemented with boundaries too. Campbell was dismissed for a well made 25 in 48 balls.

Whitefield was joined by Wellington skipper Jacob Hurry and a further 35 runs for the seventh wicket runs were added as Whitefield advanced to 74 in 97 balls with eleven fours as he had to bat in the later stages of his time at the crease with a runner after he had suffered a leg injury in what was a majestic knock - in the end he was bowled by Molhotra.

Hurry was left to bat with the tail and he made an excellent 32 in 34 balls with four fours and a six as he marshalled the strike in his favour, but at 181-9 with 23 still needed to win he had to take the lead with George Davis, as last man, supplying solid support; a dozen runs were added by this last wicket pair, but a good low catch by Lowe off of Pope when Hurry looked to loft over mid off was held to bring the game to an end with eight balls of the Wellington innings going unused.

Wembdon took 20 points to Wellington's eight to leave Ilminster 27 points clear of the Red and Blacks.

Scores: Wembdon 203, Wellington 193