Westbury entertained league leaders Cheltenham in a vital game in both ends of the table, hoping to confound the form they have shown and try to get some points that will help them in their effort to get out of the relegation zone.
Westbury made two changes from last week’s abandoned game against Corsham, with Sam Burdock and Osmond Shallow coming in for Kane Scott and Sayeed Ibrahim.
Westbury won the toss and decided to bat first. They opened with Whiting and Mills who made a confident start by putting on 48 for the first wicket when Cheltenham struck for the first time when Mills was caught by Woodland off the bowling of Walker for 19.
Burdock then came to the wicket, and shortly after Whiting was out for 26 off the bowling of Breed with the total at 54. Esau then joined Burdock and after a cameo innings of 12, was out with the total at 99. This brought Coles, the Westbury captain to the wicket and they gradually got on top of the bowling. With the total at 164 both Coles (50 off 53 balls) and Burdock (50 off 71 balls) had completed their 50s, but when the total reached 209, Cheltenham struck twice in the space of 2 runs when both batsman were out close together. The lower order took Westbury to 230 for 6 wickets off their allotted overs.
When Cheltenham batted they made a brilliant start by their inform openers Cooper-Llanes against a below par Westbury bowling attack. The first 100 came up in the 19th over with Cooper-Llanes being the dominant batsman.
When the total reached 139 Westbury made their long-awaited breakthrough by having Smith stumped by Shallow off the bowling of the Westbury spinner Lucas for 67, Evans was dismissed next ball for 0.
Cooper-Llanes was then joined at the wicket by Woodland and they completely dominated the Westbury attack. When the total reached 193, Cooper-Llanes completed his league 100 in 77 balls. He was then dismissed for a brilliant 134 with the total at 217. Scholfield and Breed then took Cheltenham to a 6 wicket win which consolidated their position at the top of the league.
Westbury’s next match away to Dumbleton on Saturday 11th August was abandoned due to weather.
