Weakened Westbury cricket team lose opening pre-season match

Sat. 16th April. Pre-season friendly. Westbury 259 for six wickets, Shrewton 260 for five. Shrewton won by five wickets.

A weakened Westbury team entertained a very strong Shrewton side who were bolstered by Rikki Clarke, the ex-Surrey and Warwickshire allrounder who joined them prior to the season. 

Westbury gave debuts to Dylan Hullett, who joined as our overseas player, and also Graham Reilly who joined the club during the winter. Garic Hopkins also re-joined the club after a long absence. 

Shrewton won the toss on a hot day and decided to put Westbury into bat. 

Westbury opened the batting with James Mawson and Daniel Gill, and they made a brilliant start against the opening Shrewton bowlers Clarke and young Ollie Bate; they put on 81 for the first wicket when Mawson was bowled for 28 by first-change Wilf Bate.   

Scott, the Westbury wicketkeeper, then came to the wicket but alas, he was shortly out for three with the score at 84, leg before wicket by Hatchett. Then Dylan Hullett joined Gill at the wicket.  

With the total at 94, Shrewton struck for the third time when Gill was out leg before for 45 off the bowling of Hatchell. James Clack then joined Hullett and they took control and when the total reached 185, Hullett retired not out for a brilliant 83 off 65 balls on his debut. 

Luke Dilena then came to the wicket a bolstered the run rate but when the total reached 236, Shrewton made a double breakthrough by having Clack (40) and young Henry White (0) run out by a mix up in the running by the experienced Rikki Clarke.  At the end of their allotted 40 overs Westbury reached 259 for six wickets.  David Hatchell had the best figures of 2-27 off five overs. 

When Shrewton batted they opened with the Shrewton captain Will Sleeman and Sean Little. With the score at nine, Westbury struck by having Little leg before off the bowling of Richard Oakley. 

Rikki Clarke then joined his captain and they took the score to 19 when Sleeman was brilliantly caught in the slips for 15, off the bowling of young Henry White. Brewer then joined Clarke and they completely dominated the Westbury bowling attack, and the total reached 177. Clarke retired not out with a score of 77 off 60 balls. 

When the total reached 187, Westbury struck again by having Brewer leg before by the new Westbury captain Andy Carroll for 74. Shortly after Luke Dilena dismissed the Shrewton wicket-keeper Barnett leg before for 9. It was left to young Ollie Bate (30*) with the help of the lower order to take Shrewton to a five wicket win with two balls to spare. 

Man of the Match: Dylan Hullett. Team: James Mawson. Daniel Gill. Kane Scott (wkt). Jadyn Hullett.  James Clack. Luke Dilena.  Henry White. Garic Hopkins. Graham Reilly. Richard Oakley.  Andy Carroll (cpt). 

Umpire: Ron Dawson 

Scorer: Chris Lack