WELLINGTON 3rd XI gained a four-wicket away win over their Taunton counterparts in a friendly, writes David Derrick.

Taunton chose to bat first and saw their opening pair of Bernard and Bryant add 49 before a breakthrough came Wellington's way as Barnard was out caught off of Jeet Jadeja's medium pace.

Taunton skipper Bryant made a most decent 42 with eight fours and a six in just 26 balls as the home side saw their total climb nicely, but Wellington got some joy from a batting paradise of a wicket as Kevin Symons took 3-35 in six overs to set Taunton to be 148-5 when Pattison was dismissed.

Aslam with 82 and Mace with 42 drove Taunton's third string into the 250s before Wellington retaliated and bowled the hosts out for 259 with over five overs going unused as Archie Evans, who skippered the Red and Blacks on the day, taking 2-44 in 7.4 overs and there were two wickets for Basha Mohammed too.

Fifty-one opening wicket runs came the way of Wellington as Trevor Brooks and Jeet Jadeja enjoyed the quality batting conditions as they made 25 and 14 respectively. It was Wellington keeper Max White with a stunning 67 not out (61 balls with eight fours) and Archie Evans with another pulsating knock at this level of 84 (53 balls with13 fours and three sixes) who added 122 magnificent fourth wicket runs that was ended when Evans was trapped LBW, as a platform for victory had been laid.

Kevin Symons with a run a ball 22 chipped in well in the middle order and through Basha Mohammed adding 18 not out saw, along with White, that Wellington would get home by four wickets with thirteen balls to spare to round off a really effective use of a weekend without league cricket.