Saturday 29th April. Pre-season friendly. Westbury and District CC 140/1 (28.5) Shrewton CC 139/All out (31.3)
WESTBURY entertained Shrewton second XI in the latest pre-season match prior to the start of the 2023 Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Division in the West of England League.
Shrewton won the toss and decided to bat first. They opened with Roylance and Vallis and they made a fine start by putting on 56 for the first wicket; then Westbury struck by having Roylance (23) caught by Forde off the bowling of young Henry White. Rich Barnett (the Shrewton wicketkeeper) then joined Vallis and took the total to 68 when Vallis (32) was run out from a no ball by James Clack.
Chris Newberry and Rich Barnett took the total to 106 when Barnett (39) was caught by Forde. Richard Mills (4-36 off 8 overs) and James Clack (3-10 off 4 overs) then contributed to Shrewton losing 8 wickets for 33 runs.
When Westbury batted, the openers Ben Whiting and James Clack had to deal with a very fine opening spell by the Shrewton opening bowlers Paiul Clancy and Andy Gray. When the total reached 40 Shrewton took their first wicket when Whiting was leg before off the bowling of Jack Castle.
Rashad Forde joined James Clack and they completely dominated the Shrewton attack playing some outstanding shots and some big hitting by Forde. When the total reached 126 Forde retired not out after scoring 56 off 27 balls, and it was left to James Clack (50* off 86 balls) and Mills to lead Westbury to very good win by 9 wickets.
In the other pre-season match Westbury beat Beckington CC by one wicket.
Report by Chris Lack.
