WELLINGTON slumped to their fifth defeat in six matches when they lost by 58 runs at home to third-placed Golden Hill in the Bristol/Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League.
It was another day in which two many of Wellington's top batters got themselves out cheaply. Despite their loss Wellington remain in seventh spot.
Golden Hill, who won the toss and decided to bat first, had made only 20 when they lost their first wicket - Lesego Senokwane being caught by Jacob Hurry off the bowling of Toby Stirzaker for only four.
Jack Penn was joined by Cyrus Shafi and they put on 27 before Penn was out for 20.
Daaryousi Ahmed was next in and he immediately stepped up the tempo, scoring his half-century in no-time, dominating the third wicket partnership with Shafi. He was eventually out for 76, scored from only 46 balls - a stand worth 99.
Understandably, the run-rate slowed with Ahmed's dismissal. Sam Brooks joined Shafi and they shared in a stand of 86 before Brooks was out for a run-a-ball 50.
Cynus Shafi was next out at 252 for 65, and the rest of Golden Hill's batters added useful runs in a final score of 319-8 in their 50 overs. Stirzaker took 2-54 and skipper Arron Campbell 2-54.
Although openers Nathan Roberts (20) and George Ruell (19) put on 36 for the first wicket Wellington's batting woes began to re-surface. Hurry (1), Alex Sparks (6) and Campbell (3) were all out for low scores as Wellington limped to 63-5.
Sachindu Colobage and the previous week's batting star Luke Desave halted a total collapse with a sixth-wicket partnership of 58. Desave was first to depart, his 40 coming in only 42 balls.
However the target was now becoming more unreasonable as Jack Beal joined Colombage. The pair started to score runs more quickly and saw up the 200-run mark.
Beal was out for 18, having been involved in a seventh-wicket stand of 104 while Colombage followed on the same score of 225 for 96, scored off only 83 balls.
No 11 Stirzaker scored 20 as Wellington were bowled out for 261. Cyrus Shafi took 3-54 and Toheed Hamid 2-35.
Meanwhile, Golden Hill moved up to second place in the table following their win at Wellington, while Downend have a 15-point lead at the top after they beat Weston super Mare away by eight wickets.
Weston were bowled out for exactly 100 with Cani Gunaratnam taking 5-45.
Midsomer Norton slipped back to third after they went down by four runs in a high-scoring game away to Congresbury.
J Kearns scored 120 for Congresbury who made 292-8 while Midsomer Norton were 288-8 after 50 overs.