Westbury travelled to play Cheltenham in the latest Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Premier 2 Division, hoping to continue their winning run after last week’s win at home against Corsham.
Westbury named an unchanged team from last week. Westbury won the toss and decided to bat first. They opened with the regular openers of Esau and Coles and made a flying start, with Esau being the dominant batsman. The 50 was reached in the 14th over, but when the total reached 55, Cheltenham struck by having Coles caught at slip by Schofield off the bowling of Pritchard for 17. Esau was then joined at the wicket by Mills and they continued to score quickly. When the total reached 84, Esau was brilliantly caught by Evans for an excellent 63 made in 68 minutes off 65 balls.
It was at this time that the Cheltenham bowlers, led by Breed, their overseas player, gained control by taking four wickets for the loss of 25 runs, Mills(4), Ibrahim (0) and Whiting (6) being the batsman dismissed. Burdock was joined by Senneck and they took the total to 154 when Cheltenham dismissed Senneck for 15, caught by Cooper-Llanes of the bowling of Pritchard. Burdock, with the help of the lower order, took Westbury’s total to 198 all out in 49.2 overs. Josh Breed had the best figures of 4-36 off 10 overs, ably supported by Pritchard 4-53 off 10 overs. Burdock was the last batsman out for 53.
When Cheltenham batted, they opened with Smith and Wodland and they found scoring difficult mainly due to the fine bowling spell of the Westbury captain Senneck. But when the total reached 42, Westbury struck by having Smith caught by Mills of the bowling of Senneck for 15. Woodland was then joined by Evans at the wicket and they took the total to 60, when Evans was bowled by Senneck for 6. Shortly afterwards, Westbury gained quick wickets when Mills dismissed Breed, caught behind by Scott for 1 and Schofield bowled for 2. Cooper-Llanes then joined Woodland and they took the total to 106, when Woodland was bowled by Mills for 64. On the dismissal of Woodland, the Westbury bowlers gradually got on top and eventually Chelltenham were bowled out for 160. Coles 3-21 had the best figures ably supported by Mills 3-35 off 10 overs, and Senneck (10-5-13-2). This was a fine performance against last season’s runners-up and gives the team confidence for next week’s match against league front runners Dumbleton.
Westbury man of the match. Remano Esau.
