WESTBURY entertained fellow league strugglers Corsham in the latest West of England League Wiltshire Division hoping to register their first league win in the 2022 season.
Westbury made five changes from their last match against Royal Wootton Bassett two weeks previously, with Chris Thompson, Michael Cooper, Liam D’Souza (on his first team league debut), Andy Carroll and Richard Oakley all coming in.
Prior to the game Andy Carroll stood down as first team captain to be replaced by Richard Oakley. Westbury won the toss and decided to bat first.
Westbury opened with Chris Thompson and James Clack but suffered an early loss when the total reached 17 and Clack was out caught by Theo Todhunter off the bowling of Michael Myatt for two. Michael Cooper (on his first appearance of the season) came to the wicket to join Thompson. Both Thompson and Cooper played carefully. The Westbury 50 came in 29 minutes off 44 balls.
Cooper and Thompson took the total to 89 in the 22nd overs when Corsham took their second wicket; Thompson was caught behind by Flynn Day off the bowling of the Corsham captain Ned Jones, for a fine 48 off 75 balls in 79 minutes.
Cooper was then joined at the wicket by Dylan Hulett. The Westbury 100 came up in the 24th over. Cooper and Hulett started to play their shots and the 150 came in the 36th over. During this partnership, Cooper (off 73 balls in 92 minutes) and Hulett (off 77 balls in 80 minutes) both completed their 50s.
When the total reached 165 Cooper was run out by the Corsham opening batsman Ben Oakley for a fine 63. Shortly afterwards Westbury lost two further wickets for seven runs with Dilena (0) and Evans (2) the batsman dismissed. Steve Clare then came to the wicket and with Hulett took the total to 204 when Hulett was dismissed for a very good 55 caught by Ben Oakley off the bowling of the Corsham opening bowlers Callum Sandell. One run later Clare was out bowled by the Corsham captain Ned Jones.
Then Andy Carroll joined Liam D’Souza at the wicket and contrived to get Westbury to 225 for 7 wickets at the end of the allotted 50 overs which meant that Westbury gained five batting points.
When Corsham batted they made a bad start by losing half their side out for 85 mainly due to the fine bowling by the reappointed Westbury captain Richard Oakley (10-2-27-3). Then there was a match winning partnership of 99 between Flynn Day (78*) and Alfie Johnson (36) who took Corsham from being 85 for 5 to 184 before Westbury struck for the final time when Johnson was caught by James Clack off the bowling of Liam D’Souza, and it was left to Day and Myatt to lead Corsham to a four-wicket win.
This was an unfortunate loss mainly due to the inform batsman but there were positives in defeat.
Westbury team: Chjris Thompson. James Clack. Michael Cooper. Dylan Hulett. Luke Dilena. Clark Evans. Steve Clare. Liam D’Souza. Andy Carroll. Richard Oakley. Faizal Faizey.
Report by Chris Lack.
