Superb fielding and bowling put Westbury on top

West of England League. Wiltshire Division. Westbury versus Calne at Westbury, Saturday 12th June 

WESTBURY entertained Calne in the latest West of England League Wiltshire Division match, hoping to put behind them last week’s narrow defeat against Corsham.

Westbury made two changes from last week’s game with Matt Greatley and James Clack (on his first team league debut) coming in for Daniel Gill and Clark Evans. 

For the third week running Westbury lost the toss and were in the field on another hot day. Calne opened the batting with Ealey and the captain Butler and they were made to work against some inspired bowling by the Westbury senior bowlers Oakley and Carrol.  

They eventually weathered the storm and took the total to 35 when Butler was out bowled by the Westbury captain Richard Oakley for 9.  Ealey was then joined by Wahib Khalid and they slowly took the score to 56 when the Westbury captain Oakley made an inspired bowling change by bringing on James Hudson who took the second wicket by having Ealey leg before for 35.   

Jerron John was caught by Andy Carroll at mid-off for 0 one run later with the score at 57.   Sean Adams then tried to break the shackles imposed by the Westbury second string bowlers and with Khalid, they took the total to 87 when Adams was out caught again by Andy Carroll at mid-of for 7. 

Daniel Knight only lasted 3 balls when he was dismissed leg before for 0. Then it was left to Matthew Baker with the lower order who took Calne to 137 all out in the 43rd over.   Michael Cooper with 5 for 36 off his nine overs, had his first five wicket league haul for the club.  He was superbly supported by James Hudson ( 3-18 off six overs). 

When Westbury batted, they opened with Richard Mills and Chris Thompson and they made a bad start with Mills out caught brilliantly in the slips by Daniel Knight for 5.  Cooper then played some good shots and sound defence and the total moved onto 65 before Chris Thompson was out stumped by the Calne wicket-keeper Ealey off the bowling of Sean Adams for 31.  

Shortly afterwards Cooper was out bowled for 12 off the bowling of the bowling of the Calne captain Jordan Butler with the total at 71.  Jayden Edmund then joined Aidan Wicks and he immediately attacked the bowling and he led Westbury home to a good four wicket win with the wicket now taking considerable spin.  Edmunds ended on 41 not out off 47 balls. 

This was superb performance by the whole team after some difficult games recently. 

Team: Richard Mills.  Chris Thompson. Michael Cooper. Aidan Wicks. Jayden Edmund. James Clack. Kane Scotrt (wkt). Matt Greatley. Richard Oakley (capt). Andy Carroll. James Hudson