Westbury stun high flying league leaders

West of England League. Wiltshire Division. Trowbridge versus Westbury at County Ground, Trowbridge Saturday 3rd July 2021

WESTBURY travelled to play high flying league leaders Trowbridge in the West of England league Wiltshire Division, hoping to put a dent in their title ambitions and also hoping to gain revenge for the home defeat suffered in the opening match of the season.

Westbury made four changes from last week’s away defeat against Warminster with James Mawson, Osmond Shallow, Kane Scott and Faizal Faizey coming in for the unavailable Michael Cooper, James Clack, Luke Dilena and James Hudson. 

With unsettled weather in the offing, Trowbridge won the toss and immediately decided to ask Westbury to bat first. 

Westbury opened with a new opening partnership of Chris Thompson and James Mawson and they made a sensational start by taking advantage of some wayward bowling and poor fielding. The openers put on 71 before Trowbridge made their first strike when Mawson was out caught at first slip by the Trowbridge captain Tom Oakley off the bowling of the Trowbridge spinner Tallentire for 10.  

Shallow then came to the wicket and he was dismissed 5 runs later by being run out for 1.  Daniel Gill then joined Chris Thompson and they took the total to 95 when Thompson was unluckily given out leg before for a brilliant 68.  

Trowbridge then took three quick wickets for the loss of off 25 when Edmund (1), Greatley (10) and Scott (2) were dismissed. Gill was then joined by Evans and they played their shots and took the total to 157 when Evans was out bowled by Vanniyar for 13. 

Faizey then came in and immediately played his shots and after making 13 off nine balls and with the total at 174 he was out bowled by the Trowbridge opening bowler Kyle Oakley. It then left to Gill (56*) and Carroll (5*) to take Westbury to a good score of 191 for the loss of 8 wickets off their allotted 45 overs. 

When Trowbridge batted, they made a bad start by losing two wickets with the total at 17 with Kyle Oakley (9) and Suleman (0) the batsmen out dismissed bowled and leg before by the inspiring Westbury captain Richard Oakley. 

Sam Julyan was then joined by the Trowbridge captain Tom Oakley.  Sam Julyan was the dominant partner as Oakley was struggling and when the total reached 79, Tom Oakley was bowled by Faizal Faizey for 3. 

Julyan was then joined by Jack Hurley, the Trowbridge wicketkeeper, and they blunted and frustrated the Westbury bowlers but when the total reached 145 Westbury made a vital breakthrough with Sam Julyan out for a good 41 bowled by Faizey.  

This was the key breakthrough as it made a hole in the batting line up and with the clouds looming, the lower order had no answer to the outstanding spells of Carroll (3 -33 off 8 overs) and Edmund (3-24 off eight overs). Eventually Trowbridge were all out for 172. 

This was a vital win which lifted Westbury 26 pts above the relegation places, and with this win it must give the team so much confidence in next week’s home game against Swindon who are currently in second place.