Encouraging display against experienced side

West of England League. Wiltshire Division. Corsham versus Westbury at Corsham on Saturday 5th June. Corsham won by 68 run

Westbury travelled to Corsham in the latest West of England League Wiltshire Division hoping to put behind them last week’s disappointing home defeat against Royal Wootton Bassett.

Westbury made three changes from last week’s match with Chris Thompson, Daniel Gill and Clark Evans coming in for the unavailable James Haggaty, Matt Greatley and Faizal Facey. Corsham won the toss on the hottest day of the year and immediately decided to bat first.

Corsham opened  with Ben Oakley and the experienced Peter Dennett, but when the total reached 11 Westbury struck for the first time when Andy Carroll bowled  Oakley behind his legs for 8.  Tom Abbott then came  to the wicket and they immediately made their intentions clear by taking on the Westbury attack.  The first 50 came up in 44 minutes off 51 balls, and the pair continued to score  very quickly with Westbury unable to stem the flow with multiple bowling changes.

Abbott completed his 50 in 45 minutes off 40 balls and when the total reached 216 Westbury struck when Michael Cooper dismissed Peter Dennett  caught by Andy Carroll in the deep. Prior to the wicket Abbott completed his 100 in 84 minutes. Shortly afterwards Abbott was caught and bowled by Richard Mills for 114 with the total at 235.  The Corsham middle order continued to score at a quick rate and at the end of their overs reached 300 for the loss of 4 wickets.

As they walked off Westbury looked shell shocked.

Westbury opened their reply with Richard Mills and Chris Thompson but they lost their first wicket at 16 when Thompson was unlucky to be given out leg before for 6.  Michael Cooper then joined Mills  at the wicket and they slowly took the total to 42 when Corsham took their second wicket with Cooper bowled by Ben Oakley for 13. 

Westbury lost 2 quick wickets with Mills (19) and Wicks (8) returning to the pavilion.  Edmunds and Gill started to take on the bowling with a very fine partnership of 84 by taking the total to 151 when Gill (39) was bowled by the Corsham captain Ned Jones. Edmunds reached his first 50 for Westbury off 54  balls in 65 minutes on his way to 84, helping Westbury to 238 for 9 wickets leaving Corsham winners by 62 runs. This was an encouraging display by Westbury against a very experienced Corsham side.  

Hopefully next week’s home game against Calne will help Westbury’s effort to climb up the table and out of the bottom two.