Wellow lost their opening Saturday league match of the season by just four runs in County Div 3 North.

Redlynch & Hale were all out for 229 and Wellow 1st XI reached 225-8.

Redlynch’s Tanner and Bayford put on 74 for the first wicket before Bayford was brilliantly run out by Draycott.

Bringing on two U17s, leg spinner Ollie Whyte and quick bowler Lewis Oliver paid dividends and Whyte dismissed Tanner for 54 and then ripped through the Redlynch middle order.

The young pair finished with four wickets apiece.

Draycott and Charlie Field put on 33 for the first Wellow wicket before Field was bowled by Hopkins for 16. Lewis Oliver joined Draycott and they began to dominate the bowling in stand of 86 before Draycott was caught at deep mid-wicket for 44. Oliver (41) followed shortly afterwards.

Liam Pullmand and Phil Whyte (86no) launched into the bowling, hitting fours and sixes to all parts of the ground, and took Wellow to the brink of victory with their partnership of 94 before running out of overs, just four runs short of their target.

Wellow report that they are short of players and have been unable to field a second team this year. Potential players can contact Jeremy Coombes on 07544 271670.