Sat.11th June. West of England League Wiltshire Division. Devizes 275/9 (50). Westbury 276/1 (47). Westbury won by 9 wickets.
WESTBURY and District CC travelled to play fellow league strugglers Devizes in the latest West of England League Wiltshire Division, with Westbury hoping to build on their promising but narrow defeat against Trowbridge.
Westbury made four changes from the match against Trowbridge with Daniel Gill, James Clack, Aidan Wicks and Steve Clare coming in for James Mawson, Keillo Shallow, Liam D’Souza and James Dark.
Devizes won the toss and decided to bat first on one of the hottest days of the year. Openers Dan Pirie and Rome England made a blistering start by putting on 50 in 48 minutes off 73 balls, but when the total reached 52 Westbury struck by having Pirie leg before wicket for 29 by Andy Carroll.
Shortly afterwards Devizes lost their second wicket when Mansell was caught behind by Aidan Wicks also off the bowling of Andy Carroll for 4. Matt Tilley then came to the wicket, and they took the score to 77 when Tilley was leg before off the bowling of Clark Evans for 13.
George Dunford then joined England and they took the score to 141 with boundary hitting and quick running before Westbury took their fourth wicket when England was caught behind by Aidan Wicks for a fine 63. Then Tom Andrew came to the crease and with Dunford they quickly raised the total with some lusty hitting. Eventually, when the total reached 241, Westbury struck for the fifth time with Dunfold caught in the deep by a fine running catch by Chris Thompson.
At the end of their allotted 50 overs Devizes had made a mammoth score of 275 for 9 wickets with Andy Carroll having the best figures (10-0-48-4) ably supported by the Westbury captain Richard Oakley (10-1-55-2).
When Westbury batted, they opened with Daniel Gill (who came in for unwell Chris Thompson) and the returning James Clack. They made a confident start by putting on 53 when Devizes took their first wicket by a brilliant run out by Rome England to dismiss Danile Gill for a good 21.
Dylan Hulett then came to the wicket and with the help of James Clack they completely dominated the Devizes bowling attack by making a brilliant second wicket partnership of 223 to take Westbury to a nine wicket win with three overs to spare. This partnership was the highest since 2009!
At the end of the innings James Clack was unbeaten on 75 not out off 136 balls in 161 minutes and Dylan Hulett was unbeaten on 159 off 112 balls in 109 minutes. This was a sensational batting display by the Westbury batsman, and this should give the team a lot of confidence.
Dylan Hulett is now in fourth place of run scorers in the West of England League. He now has 397 runs with an average of 99.25.
Devizes score: 275 for 9 off 50 overs (R. England 65, T. Andrew 63, G. Dunfold 61, A. Carroll 4-48, R. Oakley 2-55). Westbury score: 276 for one wicket in 47 overs. (D. Hulett 159*, J.Clack 75*)
Westbury team: Daniel Gill, James Clack, Dylan Hulett, Chris Thompson, Luke Dilena, Andy Carroll, Richard Oakley (cpt), Aidan Wicks 9wkt), Clark Evans, Steve Clare, Henry White.
Reports by Chris Lack
