Date-stamped : 25 Apr97 - 06:18 Wellings in Gatting`s footsteps By Doug Ibbotson at Fenner`s First day of three: Cambridge Univ (61-2) trail Middlesex (359-2 dec) by 298 runs CENTURIES are always sweet whether a first, for Paul Wellings, or the 91st, for Mike Gatting. Even so the confection consumed at Fenner`s was becoming a touch indigestible when the Middlesex third-wicket pair washed it down with tea at 300 for one. At this point, with a hamstring twanging, Gatting retired hurt on 160 and the Cambridge University bowling, lacking three of their finest through injury or exams, was granted a measure of respite. But not much. They certainly suffered while Gatting, meticulously accompanied by Wellings - better known as an Ealing CC batsman - clocked up a hundred off 149 balls, then further embellished 15 fours with a brace of glorious straight drives. The uncapped Wellings, though 27, has made only four championship appearances for Middlesex, who are apparently still assessing his potential. It looks extremely good. When Middlesex declared an hour before stumps Wellings, undefeated on 128, had struck 15 fours and a six. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) ===========================>day 2 Weekes joins in the run-fest By Doug Ibbotson at Fenner`s Second day of three: Middlesex (359-2 dec & 154-2) lead Cambridge Univ (235) by 278 runs THE day`s play at Fenner`s was a shade too relaxed to be enthralling. Middlesex were chiefly interested in loosening up professional muscles while the University are not yet consistently professional enough to maintain a hard line with the bat or, more particularly, with the ball. Consequently, while Middlesex gazed down from their 359-run declaration, Phil Tufnell was held in reserve while colleagues - including first-time senior seamer Peter Wellings - trundled to University batsmen who got going, then got out, or, at the end, simply capitulated. In the event David Churton, Anurag Singh, Will House and Rob Jones, like Ed Smith before them, breached the thirties and forties with some delightful strokes before falling to unworthy shots. Nevertheless, the prospect of following on had been averted before the last three wickets fell at 235, and Middlesex resumed the run-fest. David Nash prospered only briefly before returning a catch to Jim Freeth, but Paul Weekes cruised to a handsome century off 113 balls, including 18 fours and one six. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)