Westbury entertained Chippenham in their latest West of England Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Premier 2 Division match, hoping to build on their opening day win against Hatherley and Reddings.
Westbury won the toss and decided to bat first, opening with Ben Whiting and Michael Coles and they made a confident start. When the total reached 2,3 Chippenham struck and Whiting was dismissed, caught by Adams for 14. Shortly afterwards, Varley was dismissed, caught behind for 0 with the total at 25. Coles was then joined by Dickinson and they gradually got on top of a very disciplined Chippenham bowling attack, with the first 50 coming off 100 balls in 62 minutes.
At the drinks interval Westbury had reached 100 for 2 wickets and after the break, Westbury upped the tempo and with the total on 136, both Coles and Dickinson had completed their 50s. They both scored freely and when the total reached 183, Chippenham struck when Dickinson was caught by Charlie Slade for an excellent 70 off 100 balls. Upon Dickinson’s dismissal, Coles was joined by Richard Mills who started scoring quickly.
Once the total reached 235, Coles completed his first club century for Westbury off 136 balls, but was soon dismissed for 102. Senneck, the Westbury captain joined Mills and they took Westbury to 256 for 4 wickets off their allotted 50 overs, with Mills unbeaten on 39.
When Chippenham batted they immediately lost an early wicket when Jones, the Chippenham captain, was brilliantly caught close in by Dickinson off Oakley for 4 with the total on 8. Merryweather was then joined by Owen Alsop and they took the total to 41, when Westbury struck by dismissing Merryweather for 19, bowled by Carroll. Alsop was then joined by Petitt who took his time, but Alsop was scoring freely and when the total reached 79, Westbury took 2 wickets when Lucas dismissed Petitt (7) and Ward (1) in quick succession.
The experienced Paul Bates joined Alsop and they continued to score freely taking the total to 163, when Bates was caught and bowled by Coles for 31. It was at this time that the Westbury bowlers took a strong grip by taking 4 wickets for 51 runs. A last wicket stand of 26 took Chippenham closer than expected, but ended up 244 all out, leaving Westbury winners by 12 runs. Coles (3-43) had the best figures, ably supported by Varley (2-49) and Lucas (2-43).
This was a hard-fought but good win for the home side, with this result taking Westbury top of the league after 2 games.
