West of England Wiltshire Division. Potterne versus Westbury at the Grove Potterne on Saturday 17th July. Westbury win by one wicket
Westbury travelled to the quaint ground at Potterne in the latest West of England League Wiltshire Division, hoping to continue their outstanding recent results including wins against Trowbridge and Swindon, and also hoping to do the double over the home team.
Westbury made two changes from last week’s win against second in the table Swindon with Paul Gainey and Luke Dilena coming in for the unavailable Daniel Gill and Aidan Wicks. Potterne won the toss on the hottest day of the year and had no hesitation in deciding to bat first.
Potterne opened their innings with Nick Davies and Jake Roberts and they made a reasonable start by putting on 16 when Westbury struck for the first time, when Roberts was bowled by the Westbury captain Richard Oakley for 4.
Nick Davies was joined by Vinodh Perera and with the total at 29, Perera was bowled by Andy Carroll for 6. Davies and new batsman Josh Kelly made their intention clear by attacking the bowling and playing their shots and they took the total to 105 when Westbury struck for the third time by having Kelly caught by Kane Scott off the bowling of Jaden Edmunds for 33.
Hodder, the Potterne captain, then arrived at the wicket and both batsmen quickly got on top of the Westbury bowling attack and quickly took the score to 186 when Westbury took their fourth wicket by having Davies bowled by the spinner Michael Cooper for a brilliant hard hitting 92 made off 100 balls.
Roshorn John then arrived to join his captain and they continued in the same way by scoring quickly with some hard hitting and they took the total to 262 when Westbury dismissed Roshorn John, caught behind by Kane Scott off the Westbury opening bowler Andy Carroll for 30.
After his dismissal Westbury fought back to keep Potterne to 287 for the loss of 8 wickets off their allotted 45 overs. Andy Carroll (9-1-36-4) had the best figures ably supported by Jaden Edmund (9-0-44-2). In this innings there were 31 fours and 9 sixes.
When Westbury batted the openers Michael Cooper and Chris Thompson made their intentions very clear by attacking the opening bowlers but when the total reached 23 Potterne made their first breakthrough when Thompson was bowled by Ethan Hutchins for 20.
Shortly after Cooper was also out, caught behind by George Elliott for 2. That left Westbury 29 for 2 when Scott, the Westbury wicketkeeper was joined by James Hudson and they suddenly started to attack the bowling and took the score to 118. Scott was out just short of a 50 leg before off the bowling of Scott Montgomery.
Jaden Edmunds and Hudson continued in the same vein and they took the total to 176 when Edmunds was out for 29 off the spinner Roshorn John caught just in front of the pavilion by Scott Montgomery.
Westbury then lost three quick wickets in one over with Greatley (9), Dilena (0) and Gainey (0) the batsman dismissed by the Roshorn John leaving Westbury struggling at 186 for 7 wickets.
This was when Potterne must have thought that the Westbury innings would be ended rather quickly but the tailenders Faizal Faizey and Andy Carroll had other ideas and they stunned the home with some unbelievable hitting by taking Westbury to 240 before the ninth wicket fell due to misunderstanding by the batsman
For the second week running, the Westbury captain Richard Oakley came to the wicket with 48 runs needed to win. Faizal Faizey then came to the fore with his first club 50 and with Oakley giving him great support, the pair took Westbury to a stunning victory by one wicket which left the home team absolutely stunned. At the end, Westbury had scored 288 for 9 wickets with three and a half overs to spare.
The last three weeks this Westbury first team has grown in confidence with a tight knit group who have never wavered in their endeavours.
Team: Michael Cooper. Chris Thompson. Kane Scott ( wkt). James Hudson. Jaden Edmunds. Matt Greatley. Luke Dilena. Paul Gainey. Faizal Faizey. Andy Carroll. Richard Oakley (capt).
Stats.
Potterne. 287 for 8 wkts in 45 overs. N.Davies 92. J.Hodder 73. Roshorn John 4-49. S. Montgomery 2-40
Westbury. 288 for 9 wkts in 41.3 overs. F.Faizey 68*. J. Hudson 63. K.Scott 49. J.Edmunds 29 & 2-44 A.Carroll 4-36.
