WELLINGTON 2nd XI suffered a crushing nine-wicket defeat away to title-rivals Middlezoy in the third division of the Somerset Cricket League.

It means that with only four matches remaining for both sides, Middlezoy are now only six points behind Wellington who remain top.

Put into bat, Wellington never looked like getting a big score after losing their first wicket with 33 runs scored. Opener Paul Short hit 26 and Ollie Hunt 19 in an all out score of 140..

B Flitton led the home side’s attack with 4-29 in eight overs while N Barnard took 2-9.

Middlezoy lost their only wicket with 28 runs scored as Barnard (64 not out) and B Pomeroy (56 not out) knocked off the runs in 23-2 overs. It was only Wellington’s second loss of the summer.

In the only other game played in the division, North Perrott gained a five-wicket victory over Spaxton in a high-scoring game.

Spaxton, who opted to bat first, scored 261-8 with John Bishop playing splendidly to score 121 with 19 fours and two sixes. Robert Prescott also scored 44.

Jack Stephens led the run chase for North Perrott with 84, which included 14 boundaries, while Milo Moundo scored 52 and Joshua Marshall-James 72 not out.