West of England League. Wiltshire Division. Westbury v Trowbridge at Westbury on Saturday 1st May. Trowbridge won by 87 run
Westbury entertained local rivals Trowbridge in the opening West of England Wiltshire Division 2021 season on Saturday 1st May.
Westbury made two changes from last Saturday pre-season match against Phoenix Bristol West Indians with the returning Richard Mills and Michael Cooper coming in for the injured Chris Thompson and Luke Dilena who dropped to the second eleven away at Wilcot.
Westbury won the toss and decided to put the opposition in after much deliberation.
Trowbridge opened with Ismael Suleman and Kyle Oakley and they took the total to 19 when Suleman was bowled by the Westbury captain Richard Oakley for 4; Sam Julyan then joined Kyle Oakley and they played their shots.
The first 50 came up in 42 minutes off 33 balls, with the total at 68. Westbury struck for the second time when Kyle Oakley was bowled again by the Westbury captain Richard Oakley for a fine 43 off 41 balls. Shortly after Trowbridge lost another wicket when the wicketkeeper Jack Hurley who had left Potterne during the week was out for 4 bowled by Andy Carroll.
Julyan was then joined at the wicket by the Trowbridge captain Tom Oakley and they took the total to 101 when he was caught by Michael Cooper for 17 off 28 balls. Julyan was then joined by Jordan Pretorius and they took the total to 122 when Julyan was out for 34 caught behind by Scott off the bowling off James Haggaty.
Then the Westbury bowlers fought back by taking 5 wickets for the accumulation of 106 runs, with Michael Cooper (3 for 13) coming to the fore with the help of Clark Evans (2 for 49). Eventually Trowbridge were all out for 227 in the 44th over.
Westbury opened their innings with a new opening partnership of Michael Cooper and Daniel Gill, and, they put on a total of 37 when Trowbridge struck by having Gill caught behind by Hurley off the bowling of Tim Durston for 21. The returning Mills then joined Cooper and put on a partnership of 18 when Mills was out top edging a pull shot to Vanniyar for 4 with the total on 55.
Haggaty was out shortly for 0 with the total at 60. Westbury’s overseas player on his league debut then joined Cooper and they both looked to score but alas when the total reached 100 Edmunds was out caught by Pretorious for a good 23.
While the wickets were falling around him Cooper reached his 50 off 85 balls in 110 minutes. Then the Trowbridge bowlers fought back and eventually Westbury were all out for 140 in the 39th over. Michael Cooper had the best Score of 60.
This was an encouraging start to what could be a difficult season as the opening days scores would indicate.
Westbury man of the match – Michael Cooper 60 & 3 for 13.
• WESTBURY’S first away fixture in the 2021 season at Swindon on Saturday 8th May had to be cancelled because of the amount of rain that had fallen in the previous 24 hours.
