WESTBURY travelled to play Burbage & Royal Easton in the latest league game in the Premier 2 Division. The team was hoping to build on their good start after beating Lechlade at home last week.
Westbury named an unchanged team from last week’s home win.
Burbage won the toss and decided to bat first.
Westbury opened the bowling with Senneck and Carroll. They made a splendid start by having the Burbage captain, Cope, bowled by Senneck for 1 with the total at 2. Cooper, the Burbage overseas player, then joined Lorrain at the wicket and they took the total to 26 when Lorrain was dismissed, caught at slip by Esau off Senneck for 9. Immediately after this dismissal, Oakley struck by having Cooper leg before for 9, with the total at 27. Daniel Wootton then joined Mukherjee at the wicket and they took the score to 40 when Mukherjee was out leg before for 1.
Senneck at the time was bowling a spell of fast bowling, with the batsman playing and missing. When the total reached 48, Westbury struck, with Senneck taking his fourth wicket by having Simmons bowled for 5. Among this carnage Wootton was beginning to attack the bowling, but with his dismissal for 46 bowled by Mills, the innings subsided to 110 all out. Senneck (10-5-15-4) had the best figures, ably supported by Esau (2-10 off 4.3 overs) and Oakley (2-33 off 8 overs).
At the end of the innings Westbury must have thought that they could go on and win the game.
When Westbury batted they were immediately on the back foot, with half the side out for 45 with Esau (9), Burdock (0), Mills (8), Dickinson (0) and Gill (0) all back in the pavilion dismissed, in an inspired bowling spell by James Lavis. Senneck, the Westbury captain joined opener Coles at the wicket but when the total reached 67, Coles was superbly caught and bowled for a good 35. With his dismissal, the innings subsided to 75 all out, with Senneck unbeaten on 12.
The Burbage Spinner Adam Lavis bowled superbly by taking 5 wickets for 12 off (8.4 overs). He was ably supported by James Lavis (4-24 off his 10 overs).
Both sides struggled to adapt to the wicket and it was a very difficult day for both teams.
With this defeat, Westbury fell from first place to 5th place in the league table.
Next week Westbury travel to play Thornbury in the next round of league match, hoping to put the defeat out of their minds and come away with another win and start to climb the table.
Report by Chris Lack
