WELLINGTON maintained their unbeaten record at the top of the Somerset Division in the West of England Premier Cricket League with a 73-run away success against Butleigh yesterday (Sat).

However, this was another game in which Wellington showed true character after struggling with the bat, being 76-7 at one stage.

But Sam Whitefield came to the rescue, scoring an unbeaten 52 and sharing in an eighth wicket stand of 42 with Jack Beale who made 30.

Wellington were eventually bowled out for 160 in 42.2 overs - leaving Butleigh with a very getable target.

Rob Crowdon took 4-27 in ten overs, while Dan Durston finished with figures of 3-21 and Tim Thorne 2-38.

Toby Stizaker, who played against Wellington in a mid-week match only two days earlier, proved unplayable when Butleigh batted, finishing with match-winning figures of 5-19. Beale took 2-5 in 11 balls and Sandaken Pathirana 2-11.

Wellington 2nd XI collected 35 points in Division Four in the Somerset League after Butleigh's second string cried off.

Wellington 3rd XI beat Taunton 3rd XI by 227 runs in Division Seven Red with Aks Latifi scoring 111 not out and Charlie Burrough taking 5-17, removing five of Taunton's top six batters.