Westbury versus Bradford on Avon at Westbury on Sunday 18th April – Westbury continue build-up to start of League season with another win
WESTBURY entertained local rivals Bradford on Avon in the latest pre-season match on Sunday 18th April 2021.
Westbury won the toss and decided to bat. Ben Whiting and Matt Gainey put on 66 runs when Bradford struck by having Whiting caught for 45.
Bradford took three more quick wickets for 27 runs. Paul Gainey then came to the wicket and with the help of the lower order took Westbury to 237 runs for 9 declared. Paul Gainey 68, ably supported by Whiting (45), Clark Evans (25) and young Henry Bates (25) had the best scores.
When Bradford on Avon batted they struggled and it was only due to the batting of Robinson (51*) that Bradford on Avon reached 201 for 8 wickets at the end. Dan Gill had the best figures (3-24 off 8 overs). This was a good performance by a mixed Westbury team.
Westbury versus Midsomer Norton at Westbury on Saturday 17th April – Westbury do well against strong opposition
WESTBURY entertained a very strong Midsomer Norton side in the third pre-season match of the 2021 season, looking to continue their build up to the start of the 2021 league season.
Westbury made seven changes from last week’s abandoned game against Potterne with James Clark, Keillo Shallow, Aidan Wicks, Kane Scott, Luke Dilena, Kadjun Alocius and Faizal Facey coming in for Steve Clare, Paul Gainey, Bobby Colbourne, Henry White, Matt Gainey, Jack Bates and Jonny Dolman.
Westbury won the toss and put Midsomer Norton in to bat. Midsomer opened with Robbins and Pang, and made a rapid start until the score reached 26 when Westbury struck by having Pang leg before wicket by the Westbury captain Rich Oakley for 14.
Robbins was then joined by Nick Cox and they continued their fast scoring rate before Grant Savides had the opposition captain Robbins caught by Oakley for 51. Nick Cox was then joined by Jake Rowe and they made a fine partnership of 147 for the third wicket, but when the total reached 244 Jake Rowe was out for 60. Westbury bowlers fought back by taking 4 wickets for 94 runs but Midsomer Norton made a formidable total of 338 for 7 wickets off 45 overs.
For Westbury, openers Chris Thompson and James Clack made a fine start of 53 runs when Midsomer Norton struck with Thompson out for 32 leg before off Morgan Skipp.
Mawson then joined Clack and Westbury continued to score reasonably fast but wickets fell at regular intervals and it was only due to the efforts of Aidan Wicks, who made a fine 65 and the lower order, that Westbury made 203 all out.
This was a good effort by the Westbury team against very strong opposition.
Bowlers on top
Westbury entertained Shrewton in the first pre-season match of the 2021 cricket season.
Westbury won the toss and put the opposition into bat. Westbury opened with the regular opening bowlers Richard Oakley and Andy Carroll and it was Oakley who made the breakthrough, taking four wickets in his opening spell and reducing Shrewton to 66 for 5.
There was then a good partnership of 31 by Joseph and McClure but when the total reached 97 Westbury struck again, when McClure was out caught. On that dismissal, the bowling of Fazal Facey came to the fore and took the last 6 wickets for 62 runs with him taking 6 wickets 31, his first 5 wicket haul for the club.
Facey was ably supported by Richard Oakley taking four wickets for 34 with Shrewton reaching 156 all out.
When Westbury batted they made a disastrous start when the opener Keillo Shallow was out for 0 off the first ball of the innings. James Clack was then joined by Michael Cooper and they took the total to 60 when Michael Cooper was dismissed for a fine 28.
James Haggaty immediately made his intention quite clear by attacking the opposition bowling, but when the total reached 102 Shrewton struck for the third time by dismissing Haggaty for a brilliant 34 off 22 balls. Once he was out the Shrewton bowlers were led by young Ollie Bate who took 6 wickets for 10 off 5 overs, with Westbury losing 6 wickets for 52 and it was left to Kadjun Alocius (0*) and Andy Carroll (1*) to take Westbury to a narrow one wicket win on the opening match.
Westbury team. Oakley *. Scott (wkt). Shallow. Clack. Cooper. Haggaty. Wicks. Dilena. Evans. Alocius. Facey.
