Westbury entertained local rivals Biddestone in the last league game in the 2018 West of England Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Premier 2 League, ending what was a very disappointing 2018 season.
Westbury made two changes from last week’s away defeat against relegation rivals Trowbridge, with Sam Burdock and Michael Coles returning to the team in place of Osmond Shallow and Alex Senneck.
Westbury won the toss and immediately decided to bat first on a good Westbury wicket.
They opened with the regular openers Mills and Whiting, who sadly made a bad start when Biddestone broke through by having Mills caught at slip by Perry for 6 with the total at 15. After his dismissal, Burdock came to the wicket to join Whiting. In the next over Whiting was dismissed, caught by Beath off the bowling of Khan for 7 with the total still at 15.
Oakley came to the wicket after being promoted from number 11 and they took the total to 40 when Burdock was out for 12 caught by Flynn off the bowling of Beath. Esau then came to the wicket and they took the total to 69 when the Biddestone bowler Jacques dismissed Oakley for 24.
After his dismissal, the Biddestone bowlers got on top of the Westbury batsmen, in so much they were dismissed for 108 all out. The only batsman besides Oakley to score freely was Esau who scored 25. The Biddestone captain Panes had the best bowling (3-18 off 6 overs) ably supported by Isitt (3-18 off 8 overs) and Jacques (2-22 off 7 overs).
When Biddestone battted they made a flying start against some loose bowling by the Westbury opening bowlers. When the total reached 54, Westbury made a breakthrough by having Perry caught by Burdock in the deep off the bowling of the Westbury spinner Lucas for 29. Shortly he was joined in the attack by the other Westbury spinner Gill and he took four wickets by dismissing Evans (12), Flynn (0), Thomas (9) and Isitt (10) with the total rising from 54 to 97 and it was left to Quarrell (23*) and Jacques (6) to take Biddestone to a five wicket win in 14 overs.
Thus ends a very disappointing 2018 season and with Westbury being relegated to the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire League, it gives them time to reflect on how they can improve and make a swift return to the higher league in 2019.
Christopher Lack
