Westbury travelled to play Devizes in the latest West Of England Wiltshire League match, hoping to continue their winning run.
Westbury made two changes from last week’s home win against Malmesbury, with Osmand Shallow and James Hudson coming in for the unavailable Clark Evans and Ben Whiting.
Devizes won the toss and immediately decided that Westbury should bat first.
Westbury opened with Mills and McDonald and they struggled to cope with a very good Devizes bowling attack which meant that after 15 overs they had only scored 32. When the total reached 36 Devizes struck, when McDonald was dismissed for 19. It was at this time that the Devizes bowlers took complete control by dismissing 7 batsman for the loss of 50 runs. It was only due to some lusty hitting by Carroll that Westbury eventually reached 107 all out. At the end of the Westbury innings Carroll was unbeaten on 37. The Devizes spinners Grant (3-27) and Wookey (3-28) completely dominated the Westbury batting lineup.
When Devizes batted they were completely blown away by the Westbury opening bowlers Carroll (5-21 incl. A hat-trick ), and Oakley (3-8 off 10 overs). At one stage Devizes were 26 for 8 and it was only that until the last 2 wickets, Devizes only reaching 66 all out.
This was a superb team effort in the field, admittedly helped by some very inept Devizes batting
Westbury travel to play Great Bedwyn next week hoping to complete a season double, as well as gaining revenge for last year’s game that cost Westbury winning last season’s league.
Cricket score correction
IN the last issue White Horse News reported that Westbury & District CC beat Malmesbury by five wickets. The club would like to clarify that it was in fact a win by 45 runs.