Match Report. West of England Wiltshire and Gloucestershire League Premier 2 Division. Westbury versus Corsham at Westbury on Saturday 26th May

Westbury  181 for 5 wickets 50 overs.  D.Gill  54*  A.Senneck  50*

Corsham 131 all – 42.1 overs. 

Westbury entertained local rivals Corsham who were relegated from the Premier One Division last season in the latest  West of England League match and were hoping to put behind them the defeats against Burbage and Royal Easton and Thornbury over the last two weeks.

Westbury made three changes from last week’s close defeat against league leaders Thornbury, with Ben Whiting, Sayeed Ibrahim and James Dark coming in for the unavailable Michael Coles, Romano Esau and Arron Dickinson. Corsham won the toss and decided that they would field first.

Westbury began with a new opening partnership of Ben Whiting and Sam Burdock. They made a bad start when  Ben Whiting was dismissed leg before by Curtis for 10 with the total at 16.  Burdock was then joined by Mills at the wicket. They made a confident start after the dismissal with Mills being the dominant batsman and  when the total reached 46, Corsham struck by having Burdock out leg before off the bowling of the Corsham spinner  King for 6. He was replace by Alex Senneck.

Shortly afterwards, Mills was dismissed for 20, caught by Smith  off the bowling of the Corsham captain, Tom Foley.  Scott  then joined  Senneck  at the wicket and they took the total to 61, when Scott was out caught by Tom Foley off the bowling of Smith for 6. This brought in Sayeed Ibrahim who was playing his first game in the first team after a few years  and they both batted with confidence until the total reached 93, when Ibrahim was  caught off the boundary for a confident 12. Senneck was then joined by Gill who had up to now struggled a bit for runs but once they got on top, they played some good shots.

The 100 came up in the 33rd over in 108 minutes and with both batsman gaining in confidence, the score rose rapidly and when in the 50th over, both batsman completed their 50s.  Senneck’s 50 came up in 108,balls in 113 minutes. Gill’s 50 came up in 54,balls in 58 minutes.  They were both unbeaten at the end of the allotted overs, having completed a partnership off 88.  Tom Smith had the best figures of 2-27 off his allotted 10 overs.

Corsham in reply made a bad start with half the side out for 69 and it was only due to a fine 9th wicket partnership of 32  that they reached 131 all out in the 43rd over. Richard Mills 3-21 off 10 overs had the best figures,  ably supported by Andy Carroll 2-16 off 7 overs and Tom Lucas 2-26.

This was a fine team performance, even with a few first team players missing, and it bodes well for the rest of the season. Points.   Westbury  18pts.  Corsham     3pts. Eastern Paradise man of the Match.   Alex Senneck.

West of England League Wiltshire and Gloucestershire League Premier 2

Saturday 19th May

Thornbury V Westbury

Thornbury  310 for 5 wickets.  D. Davis  85.  L.Davis  67.  D. Slade  5-41. Westbury.  285 for 9 wickets  M.Coles  120 and 2-20.  R.Mills  78.

Westbury made one change from last week’s defeat, with James Hudson coming for the injured Richard Oakley. Thornbury won the toss and immediately decided to bat first making 310 for 5.

When Westbury batted they opened with the regular openers of Esau and Coles, and they made a flying start but when the total reached 54, Thornbury struck. This brought Mills to the wicket and he and Coles continued to score quickly when in the 29th over, the 100 was reached.

When the total reached 108 Coles reached his 50 off 56 balls in 111 minutes.  Then Thornbury gradually  gained some control by taking 5 wickets for 55 runs when Westbury went hell for leather to try and win the game but they came up just short in an excellent game.

Man of the match, Michael Coles. Match Points. Thornbury  19pts. Westbury  7 pts.