WELLINGTON 3rd XI slipped to fourth place in Division Seven South of the Somerset Cricket League when a resurgent Taunton St Andrews 4th XI visited Sampford Arundel CC last Saturday and collected an eight wicket win and imposed a first loss of 2026 on the Red and Blacks’ third string, writes David Derrick.

Wellington chose to bat first on winning the toss and saw only three players achieve double figures as the innings lasted 28.1 overs. Phil Baker was the mainstay with 36 as opener in 60 balls with three fours and six, but he never found a consistent partner to build with.

After Baker's good effort with the bat, only Archie Evans with 13 and Simon Burrough with 12 made double figures as the Wellington innings subsided somewhat to be all out for 96. For TSA Hines with 3-12 was good value with the ball as all six of their attack maintained good discipline.

In their chase of 97 to win TSA 4s took three balls short of twenty overs to get the score required as an unbroken 56 third wicket stand between Revolledo with 34 not out and Cohen with 21 not out got the job done after their score had been 41-2 with both wickets going to Aayan Kazi who took 2-24 in six overs of leg spin as catches from skipper Tyler Fyfe and Jay Jadeja were recorded. Wellington took six points and TSA 35.

Wellington face an away 'derby' match with Mass 2nd XI on Saturday 20th June at Nynehead CC starting at 1.30pm.

Other matches in the division are: Taunton St Andrews B XI v Huntspill & District, Trull 2nd XI v Taunton Deane 5th XI, Wembdon 5th XI v Bishops Hull 2nd XI.