WEMBDON edged closer to promotion with a 135-run victory on Saturday.

Their total was thanks largely to half-centuries from Sam Puddy (79) and Karl Trunks (63not).

Ilton’s reply never looked threatening as they crumbled to 126 all out, with Alastair Cook (4-29) doing the majority of the damage.

Having been asked to bat first, Wembdon lost Gower (0) in the first over as he mistimed a pull shot to the fielder without a run on the board.

But the in-form Sam Puddy, partnered Phil Curd and the pair looked to lay the foundations for a big score.

And they soon began to capatalise on an Ilton attack that lacked any depth, as Wembdon raced past 50.

Curd went for 14 in a stand of 50 for the second wicket with Puddy, and Brockwell (12) struck a couple big blows before being bowled, shouldering arms to a ball that cut back sharply.

The youthful Jack Lowe (30) joined Puddy and got off the mark quickly with a flurry of boundaries, but his quick scoring was halted by a large thunder storm, as the game paused for 15 minutes.

Fortunately Wembdon were on the edge of the large storm and play restarted now reduced to 48 overs a side.

Puddy brought up his 50 for the third consecutive match sharing a crucial stand of 83 with Lowe in the process, who fell to a stunning catch for a well made 30.

Wembdon had reached 184 for 5 after 34 overs when the heavens opened again and play was suspended.

An early tea was taken after which the showers had passed, with the game now 42 overs a side.

Puddy (79) and Joshi fell quickly after the interval, but the dangerous hard-hitting Trunks got himself in and released some big blows, supported well by Eckley (14not). The pair added 77 from the last eight overs, with Trunks smashing a blistering 63 from 44 balls to take Wembdon to an imposing 261-7 off 42 overs.

After a quick turnaround, Matt Hubbard dismissed the dangerous Nat Price third ball of the innings.

Hubbard (3-20) continued that form throughout the afternoon as his a sharp spell of swing bowling accounted for the Ilton top three.

At 30-3 from ten overs, Ilton were already out of the game and had opted against going for the win.

Wembdon rotated their seam bowlers as Ilton’s approach began to frustrate the home side, but Alastair Cook’s right-arm spin tore through the middle-order to put an end to any resilience.

Cook returned figures of 4-28, while Hubbard (3-20) also chipped in with three wickets as Ilton were bowled out in the 38th over.

Wembdon are now 59 points clear at the top of the table, with just four fixtures left, knowing that one victory will secure promotion.