WELLINGTON 2nd XI’s hopes of ending their disappointing start to the season were dashed when they lost by nine wickets away to Wedmore in the first division of the Somerset Cricket League, the opposition scoring at a fair old lick, writes David Derrick.

Rob Moysey won the toss and chose to bat first and this decision saw a 39 run opening stand posted between Aks Latifi and Paul Short. When this combination was broken Andy Hurry made 10, Thom Trott, returning to Red and Blacks colours, struck 16 and Ollie Hunt added a pleasant 24 as they all batted with Latifi who is having a very good season as a batter/keeper.

On this occasion he made 87 (89 balls, fifteen fours and two sixes) and was the outstanding Wellington second string batter - the score was 125 when he was stumped off of spin bowler Andrews who removed both Latifi and Hurry at a time when Wemore needed a breakthrough.

From this point (three down) Wellington made it to 179 all out in forty overs as five went unused. Burgess with 3-36 in eight overs was the home side's best performer with the ball as this attack delivered a solid showing with the ball that could have gone awry had Latifi gone on to three figures and beyond.

Wedmore blitzed the Wellington attack at the rate of nine runs per over as only Fawad Sadat was successful with the ball as, for Wedmore, Masters with 51 not out, Boley with 46 and Tucker with 43 not out wasted no time to get 35 points in the bag to Wellington's nine for whom the concession of 42 runs in extras did not help.

Thirty-three points now separates bottom side Wellington and ninth place West Monkton who were fellow promotees from Division Two in 2025.

Scores: Wellington 2nd XI 179, Wedmore 182-1