Westbury lose local derby by one wicket

Saturday 13th May. West of England League Wiltshire Division. Potterne 216/9 (47.4) Westbury and District 213/All out (48).

WESTBURY and District Cricket Club travelled to play local rivals Potterne in the latest West of England League Wiltshire Division match, hoping to put behind them the opening match of the season against Corsham that was abandoned due to bad weather.

Westbury made four changes from their previous match, with James Clack, Steve Clare, Henry White, and Andy Carroll coming in for Chris Thompson, Daniel Gill, Aidan Wicks, and Luke Dilena. Westbury won the toss and decided to bat first.

They opened with Richard Mills and Jai Kurt, and they made a bad start when, with the total at 18, Mills was caught behind by David Bromley for 8. Kane Scott (the Westbury wicketkeeper) then joined Jai Kurt and they took the total to 38 before Scott was caught by Rory Lyttle for 8 off a painstaking innings of 35 balls.

Rachad Forde then arrived at the wicket; shortly afterwards Potterne took two quick wickets for 27 runs with Forde (15) and Greatley (8) out leaving Westbury 65 for 4 wickets. Kurt was then joined by James Clack and they gradually got on top of the home team bowlers, but when the total reached 123, Clack (15) was bowled by Nick Davies. Soon after with the total at the same score Kurt 57 (his first club league 50) was out caught behind by David Bromley off the bowling of Milan Perera. Jino Jojo, 57, with the help of the lower order took the Westbury total from 123 for 6 to 213 all out.

Milan Perera (4-37 off 10 overs) had the best figures ably supported by Max Andrews (2-32 off 8 overs).

When Potterne batted they lost 6 wickets for 120 mainly due to the efforts of Richard Oakley (2-20) and Jai Kurt (4-48) and it was only due a fine knock of 56 not out by Milan Perera that Potterne eventually reached the target for the loss of 9 wickets.

Man of the match. Milan Perera (Potterne). Match points: Potterne 20pts, Westbury 8 points.

Westbury team: Richard Mills, Jai Kurt, Kane Scott (wkt), Rachad Forde, Matt Greatley (capt), James Clack, Steve Clare, Jino Jojo, Andy Carroll, Richard Oakley, and Henry White.