Warminster Cricket Club’s 1st XI have been crowned Division 1 champions of the Wiltshire County Cricket League – with three matches still to play.
The title was sealed over the weekend, when the team edged past Swindon CC’s 2nd XI in a tense encounter that also preserved their unbeaten season.
Batting first, Swindon found it difficult to score quickly against an accurate Warminster bowling attack and were finally dismissed in the penultimate over for 154 runs.
The wickets were shared around the Warminster bowlers, but the top wicket takers were the captain, Rory Cullinan, with three wickets for 26 runs and Brad Small who took three wickets for 14 runs.
In response, the Warminster batsmen also found it difficult to score fluently and it was down to Anre Schutte (80 runs not out) to carry his bat through the innings and guide the team to victory, although he almost ran out of partners. Warminster reached the required total for the loss of nine wickets in the 40th over.
The Warminster 2nd XI lost an incredibly close game against Sherston Magna. Warminster, batting first, started brightly, but were bowled out for 121 runs having been 112 for four wickets at one stage. However, the Warminster bowlers were excellent in reply, led by Saroj Basnet, who took five wickets for 32 runs off his nine overs, with all of his wickets bowled. Sherston Magna struggled against the disciplined Warminster bowlers, but they scored the winning run having lost nine wickets and ensuring a one-wicket loss for Warminster.
The Warminster 3rd XI recorded a good win against a Trowbridge 3rd XI. Trowbridge scored 137-8 off their 45 overs. Pick of the Warminster bowlers were Graham Cuthbertson with three wickets for 13 runs and Sean Holton with 3-27. Warminster comfortably reached the total, for the loss of only three wickets, with Stuart Waterland leading from the front in scoring 54 runs. The seven-wicket victory was recorded in the 22nd over.
Saturday 2nd August, Warminster 1st XI beat Devizes by 115 runs. Batting first, the Warminster batsmen scored 210 runs off their 45 overs, with Anre Schutte recording 103 runs, his second century of the season.
The Warminster bowlers were excellent in response, bowling Devizes out for 95 runs. All of the bowlers took wickets, but Nathan Bond and Brad Small both took four wickets each, helping the team to a secure a reasonably straightforward victory.
The Warminster 3rd XI achieve a resounding win against the Melksham 2nd XI. Melksham were bowled out cheaply for 75 runs in 24 overs. Mark Evans took three wickets with Alex Grace taking five wickets in his five overs. The Warminster batsmen ensured a comfortable win, scoring the required runs inside 24 overs.
The 2nd XI were involved in another close match, but unfortunately came out ‘second best’ to an Avebury 2nd XI. Avebury batted first and were all out for 220 runs, with Max Ellis recording the best bowling figures of three wickets for 46 runs. Warminster started positively, but were bowled out for 202 runs in the 42nd over, losing by 18 runs.
Report: Russell Collier
