Westbury bounce back with outstanding team performance

Sat. 6th July. West of England Premier Cricket League – WEPL Wiltshire Royal Wootton Bassett 168-all out Westbury 245-7

Westbury travelled to play Royal Wootton Bassett in the latest West of England League Wiltshire Division, hoping to put behind them last week’s defeat at Swindon.

Westbury made four changes from last week’s game at Swindon with James Haggaty, Alex Senneck, Richard Oakley and Clark Evans coming in for Arran Dickinson, Michael Coles, Aidan Wicks and James Dark. 

Royal Wootton Bassett won the toss and had no hesitation in inserting Westbury to bat first and regular openers Mills and Gill made a blistering start, with Mills the dominant batsman. And it came as a bit of a surprise when the score reached 49, Royal Wootton Bassett struck by having Gill bowled by Sam Lawro for 6.  Mills was then joined at the wicket by Scott and they continued to score quickly. 

Then RWB struck again when the total reached 81, Scott was out caught by Akash Sharma off the bowling of Sam Lawro for 18.  This brought Haggaty to the wicket and from his first ball, he and Mills completely dominated the bowling. Eventually both batsmen completed their 50s, Mills off 55 balls in 68 minutes and Haggaty off 34 balls in 35 minutes.

Then, when the total reached 145, RWB struck by having Haggaty dismissed for a brilliant 52. Shortly afterwards Mills was out, caught at cover by Scott Twine off the opening bowler, Akash Sharma, for a season’s best 73. Shortly afterwards RWB took two further wickets for the loss of 13 runs, Hudson (6) and Evans (7), the batsmen dismissed. 

Lucas then joined Senneck at the wicket and they completely dominated the opposition bowlers by putting on 61 runs in 8 overs. 

At the end of their allotted 50 overs Westbury had scored an intimidating score of 245 for 7 wickets, Senneck finished unbeaten on 51 off 38 balls. 

When Royal Wootton Bassett batted they made a bad start by losing 2 wickets for 17, Akash Sharma then joined opener Chahal at the wicket.  It was at this time that the batsmen were subjected to some fast and hostile fast bowling by the Westbury opening bowlers Carroll and Hudson. 

When the opening bowlers finished their spells they looked more comfortable and took the total to 68 when Sharma was dismissed by Senneck for 24; soon after at 85, Senneck struck again by having Anis Ali caught by Carroll for 1. Then the Westbury spinners Gill and Lucas came to the fore and they eventually bowled the opposition out for 168. Dan Gill (4-13) had the best figures ably supported by Senneck (2-29).