The weekend of May 2nd saw the start of the 2026 cricket season for Warminster Cricket Club, but unfortunately the rain also made a reappearance.
After an incredibly successful season last year, resulting in promotion to the West of England Premier Cricket League (Wiltshire), the Warminster 1st XI travelled to Corsham to play the Corsham 2nd XI.
Warminster won the toss and elected to bat first. Batting was never going to be straightforward this early in the season and whilst several of the team managed to build the foundations of an innings, wickets fell at regular intervals. Warminster were finally dismissed for 144 runs.
With the rain on the horizon, the Warminster bowlers responded quickly, taking two early wickets, but the game was abandoned with the Corsham 2nd XI response at 36 runs for the loss of two wickets.
The Warminster 2nd XI began their season in Division 5 of the Wiltshire County Cricket League and were frustrated to see their match disrupted by the weather. Playing the Swindon NALGO 2nd XI, Warminster had a remarkable start to the game with Charlie Loudoun taking three wickets in the second over. Whilst the opponents recovered from their disastrous start, the match was abandoned after 35 overs with Swindon NALGO on 126 for the loss of six wickets. Charlie Loudoun was the pick of the Warminster bowlers finishing with four wickets for 27 runs.
Following a promotion winning 2025 season, the Warminster 3rd XI, started 2026 against DC United Cricket Club in Division 7 of the Wiltshire County Cricket League. Winning the toss, Warminster decided to bat first and made steady and positive progress on their way to scoring 200 runs all out. Top scorer was Callum Widdows, with an excellent 64 runs. Unfortunately, the heavens opened with only one over having been bowled in the DC United innings, resulting in another match being abandoned.
There are also a wide range of opportunities for children to get involved and experience cricket at Warminster Cricket Club. Whilst later in the summer we will see the return of ‘All Stars Cricket’ (age 5 – 8) and the ‘Dynamos’ programme’ (age 8 -11), some of the junior teams have already started their seasons. The Warminster U-15 team have started their season brightly, recording a hard-earned victory against a South Wilts Cricket Club U-15 team. Chasing 129 runs to win, the whole team were superb, winning in the last over of the match.
Report: Russell Collier
