West of England League. Wiltshire Division. Swindon versus Westbury at Swindon on Saturday 4th June.

Westbury travelled to play Swindon in the latest West of England Wiltshire Division match hoping to continue their good start to the season after last week’s win against Marlborough. 

The made two changes from last week’s match with Tom Lucas and Osmand Shallow coming in for Clark Evans and Aiden Wicks.  Swindon won the toss and decided to insert Westbury into bat. Westbury made a bad start when Mills was out with the total at 16 caught behind for 5.  McDonald was joined by fellow New Zealander Gibbs and they took the total to 46 when McDonald was out leg before for 21.

Gill then joined Gibbs and they started confidently and gradually increased the scoring. When the total reached 95 Gibbs completed his 50 off 73 balls and with the support of Gill who was batting well, they started to take the game away from Swindon.

With the score at 155 Swindon struck for the third time when Gill was bowled for a fine 43.  Gibbs was then joined by the Westbury captain Senneck and they scored very quickly, and it came as a surprise when, with the score at 207, Gibbs was dismissed for a brilliant 105 off 133 balls.

Senneck, with the help of the lower order, took Westbury to 230 for 5 off their allotted 50 overs with Senneck unbeaten on 32.

When Swindon batted they made a bad start when Sore (4) and Kill (0) were out with the score at 14. (both bowled).  Then there was a fine partnership between Page and Williamson and they took the total to 109 when Westbury took 2 wickets in successive balls.

Then Tucker, with the help of Williamson, moved the total to 134 when Tucker was out caught for 13.  Then the injured batsman Baartman joined Williamson and they completely dominated the Westbury bowling with some very big hits and it looked as though they would take Swindon to a victory, but the Westbury bowlers had other ideas.

When the total reached 223 Westbury struck by dismissing Baartman, caught by Gill for 49 and with his dismissal Westbury believed that they could still win the game; with the scores level and with 2 wickets left Westbury, under the guidance of the Westbury skipper, took the final 2 wickets to tie a memorable game, leaving Swindon shell shocked as to how they failed to win the game in one of the best games of cricket that both sides have probably ever played.

Reports by Chris Lack