Wellington 127-5 - Taunton 130-3

On a weekend of close finishes for Wellington this was the most agonising as they were edged out by Taunton in this Baker Cup first round match at home on Monday evening on the last ball.
The Western Alliance club opted to ask the Somerset League Division One club to bat first and this looked to be the right choice as former Somerset player Matt Bulbeck reduced Wellington to 4-2 in 3 overs and Taunton - who had suffered two successive relegations down the WEPL structure - were in the ascendancy, but Matt Daniel and Rob Moysey righted things with a fine 65 run stand in 9 overs as they took the attack to Taunton and found the county town team buckled a little under the pressure.
Daniel used his feet well and had made 30 before he speared Wayland high into the air.
Moysey continued and was unbeaten in the innings with 53no as he bonded the Wellington innings together. Mark Saunders - making his first appearance of the season - cracked 19 more than useful runs and looked in form going forward.
Wellington scurried to 127-5 in 20 overs - a fine effort from being 4-2 in 3 overs.

Although Taunton did not lose more than three wickets in their chase, the run rate looked as if it might undo them.
Kevin Symons bowled two excellent overs before straining a side muscle whilst delivering the first ball of his third over and he is doubtful for this coming weekend.
Paul Short picked up the attack in his place and the Wellington skipper did a good job.
Slower rather than pace was the way to go and Matt Daniel, Thom Trott and Rob Moysey all did so much good work for Wellington to get the game to the last over.
For Taunton skipper Cooper he had made it to 26 before Moysey got his wrong-un through his defence.
Gange was continuing to 48no and this was the solid innings his team needed.
Bulbeck showed much adaptability in making 37, but Alec Short stumped him from Trott and when Todd was well caught by Short off of Moysey in the last over so it came to pass that two were needed from the last ball for Taunton to win, Moysey produced a brute of a ball and it almost bowled Gange, but it evaded everything and cruelly for Wellington sped away to the boundary and Taunton were relived, Wellington heartbroken.

The Red and Blacks now move into the Terry Mockeridge Plate and will host the losers of the Brompton Ralph vs. Chard tie on Monday 19th May from 6.15pm.
Details from Paul Short.