WELLINGTON gained a crushing 224-run home victory over neighbours Taunton in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League in their latest match.

Wellington, however, remain third in the table, although they closed the gap on second-placed Yeovil, who lost by two wickets at Bridgwater, while Ilminster stay top after they won by five wickets at Temple Cloud.

Wellington opted to bat first against Taunton and hit 345-6 in their 50 overs, with the feature being a 245-run stand for the fourth wicket between Sri Lankan Lakshan Edirisinghe and Sam Whitefield who both hit tons.

All-rounder Edirisinghe was unbeaten on 156, having scored 20 fours and five sixes in a 119-minute knock, while Whitefield hit a run-a-ball 107 with 15 fours.

Opener Luke Desave, a century-maker himself the previous weekend, also scored 33 as Wellington scored their biggest total of the season. Solly Woodall was the only bowler to enjoy any success, taking 3-53 on another hot day.

Taunton, facing a formidable total, ran into trouble right from the start as Toby Stirzaker had opener Harvey Coleman (1) caught by Arron Campbell with only two runs on the board.

Another wicket went down at six, before Charlie O’Dea (29) and Woodall (40) tried to repair the damage with a third-wicket stand of 69.

But all of Wellington’s bowlers took wickets as Taunton were eventually bowled out for 121 in 29.4 overs with Campbell finishing with 3-14, Edirisinghe 2-28 and Robbie Watts 2-8. There was also a wicket apiece for Stirzaker, Desave and Stian Smith.

Temple Cloud, who lost by 44 runs to Wellington the previous weekend, stay fourth despite the loss to Ilminster while Wembdon won by eight wickets at home to North Perrott to remain in fifth place, now only three points behind Temple Cloud.

Wellington play away to Perrott this weekend (July 25).