Westbury fall just short against strong opponents

West of England League. Wiltshire Division. Westbury vs Royal Wootton Bassett at Westbury. Saturday 29th May. RWB won by 38 runs

WESTBURY entertained Royal Wootton Bassett in the latest West of England Wiltshire Division match, hoping to put  last week’s cancelled away match at Avebury behind them.

Westbury made two changes from the last match played two weeks ago at home against local rivals Potterne, with James Hudson and Faizal Fazey coming in for Clark Evans and Luke Dilena.

Royal Wootton Bassett won the loss and decided to bat first on the hottest day of the year. They opened with Charan Chahal and the debutant Scott De Weyman, and immediately stated their intent by attacking the Westbury bowling attack.  

The first 50 came up in 47 minutes off 63 balls with  Chahal leading the way, and the pair continued to score freely. The 100 came up off 114 balls in 87 minutes, but when the total reached 116 Westbury struck for the first time when Chahal was caught behind by Kane Scott off the bowling of the recalled Faizal Fazey for 62. 

Sam Lawro then joined De Weymarn and they took the total to 150 when Lawro was out for 15 caught by Andy Carroll also off the bowling of Faizey.  The batsman continued to score freely and eventually the total reached 250 for 6 off 45 overs.  Faizal Faizey had the excellent figures of (3 for 29 off his nine overs), ably supported by Richard Mills (2 for 20 off 4 overs).

When Westbury batted they made a bad start with two wickets for 28 with Cooper  (0) and Wicks (9) both out, bowled off the bowling of Sam Lawro.  Mills was then joined by James Haggaty and they rebuilt the innings and eventually took the total to 112. During this partnership Mills completed his 50 off 73 balls in 93 minutes. At 112 Royal Wootton Bassett took their third wicket when Haggaty was out caught by Anis Ali for a fine 35.  At his dismissal the bowlers strangled the Westbury lineup by taking 4 wickets for 84 runs.  

Hudson was the exception as he took on the opposition bowlers with some mighty hitting on making his way to 38.  Eventually Westbury were dismissed for 212 in the 43rd over.  Richard Mills had the best score of 70, ably supported by Hudson (38) and Haggaty (35). 

Charan Chahal had the best figures of (3 for 29 off 8 overs), ably supported by Sam Lawro (2 for 47 off 9 overs) and Tatenda Chiradza (2 for 51 off 9 overs).