Narrow loss against high-flying local rivals after improved performance

Sat. 4th June. West of England League Wiltshire Division. Trowbridge 178/ all out (39.5). Westbury 171/all out (44). Trowbridge won by 7 wickets.

WESTBURY District and Cricket Club travelled to play local rivals Trowbridge in the latest West of England League Wiltshire Division match at the start of this month, hoping to break their duck in this league. 

Westbury made two changes from the previous defeat against Corsham; one enforced due to injury and the other being a late withdrawal. James Mawson and James Dark came in for James Clack and Michael Cooper. 

Westbury won the toss and immediately put the home team into bat. Trowbridge opened with Jayke Hudd and Ethan Wilkins, and they made a steady start. The first 50 came in 91 minutes off 89 balls; when the total reached 77 Westbury struck for the first time when Wilkins was caught by Dylan Hulett off the bowling of Clark Evans for 22.  

Sam Julyan then joined Jake Hudd, and with the score at 87 Hudd completed his 50 made in 92 minutes off 74 balls. Shortly after Hudd was caught by Andy Carroll also off the bowling of Clark Evans with the score at 95. 

Then Tom Oakley, the Trowbridge captain arrived at the crease and the scoring rate increased rapidly by some quick running and some lusty hitting. When the total reached 157 Westbury took control and demolished the Trowbridge line-up from 157 for 3 to 178 all out, with the Westbury captain Richard Oakley bowling a spell of 6 for 13 off 5 overs with the support of Andy Carroll 2-2. 

Richard Oakley had the outstanding bowling figures (10-2-28-6) ably supported by Andy Carroll (7.4-1-22-2). Westbury then started the chase to get 179 with the openers Mawson and Thompson but they made a bad a bad start by losing half their side for 99. Then there was a fine partnership of 30 between Dylan Hulett (57) and Liam d’Souza (7) who took the total to 139 when Hulett was out for a fine 57. With his dismissal the game turned in Trowbridge’s favour. Eventually Westbury were dismissed for 171 leaving the hosts winners by 7 runs. 

This was probably the best away team performance of the season. 

Team: Chris Thompson, James Mawson, Keillo Shallow, Clark Evans, Dylan Hulett, Luke Dilena, James Dark, Andy Carroll, Liam D’Souza, Richard Oakley (cpt), Henry White. 

• Westbury’s game on Saturday (18th June) against Potterne was abandoned. Westbury scored 197 all out and Potterne were 108 for 6 in reply before the match was called off.