Warminster CC 1st XI extend their winning run to four matches as the 2nd XI continue to push for promotion

Warminster Cricket Club 1st XI recorded a quite remarkable victory over Avebury CC 1st XI on Saturday 15th August.

Avebury won the toss, elected to bat first and made a very positive start to their innings.  At one stage they had scored 172 runs for the loss of only two wickets, but the introduction of the Warminster spin bowlers slowed down their progress, with Avebury finally dismissed in the 49th over for 260 runs.  Pick of the bowlers were Jake Small, who took four wickets for 33 runs and Brad Small who returned four wickets for 43 runs.   

The Warminster reply did not begin well, losing three wickets inside the first three overs and then limping to 67 runs for the loss of five wickets.  However, a partnership of 186 runs between captain Rory Cullinan (73 runs not out) and Paul Braithwaite, with an outstanding 113 runs, turned the tide in Warminster’s favour.  Needing seven runs to win off the last over, Rory hit the winning boundary to seal the memorable win.

The Warminster 2nd XI remained top of the Wiltshire County Cricket League Division 5 with a relatively comfortable 49-run victory over Wilcott Cricket Club.  Batting first, Warminster produced a solid display in scoring 233 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their 45 overs.  Olly Michael top scored with an impressive 60 runs.   

In reply, Wilcott found it difficult to get on top of the accuracy of the Warminster bowlers and with the wickets shared around, Wilcott finished on 184 runs for the loss of nine wickets.

The 3rd XI lost by five wickets to the Bonded Brothers Cricket Club in a very high scoring match.  Warminster decided to bat first and were delighted to score 287 runs for the loss of nine wickets from their 45 overs.  Tim Trombas top scored with an impressive 94 runs.  Unfortunately for Warminster, the Bonded Brothers batsmen were in fine form and chased down the total inside 41 overs.

Unfortunately, the weekend of the 22nd August saw the Warminster 3rd XI without a game as the Swindon 4th XI forfeited the match; however the points awarded cemented the team into mid-table in the league and ensured a stress-free final fixture.

The Warminster 2nd XI stumbled in their efforts to win Division 5, but other results meant that they are now guaranteed to win promotion to Division 4.  Playing Swindon Hunters, who are second in the table, Warminster fielded first and bowled well, although perhaps they didn’t have the luck they deserved.   

Swindon Hunters scored 239 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their 45 overs, with Charlie Loudoun returning the best bowling figures of three wickets for 48 runs.  The Warminster opening batsmen started well, with Evan Collier scoring 52 runs, but a mid-innings collapse saw the team bowled out for 176 runs and a 63-run loss.

The 1st XI produced another outstanding performance to beat the Trowbridge Cricket Club 1st XI by 95 runs.  Batting first, the Warminster batsmen showed excellent temperament in building a total of 239 runs for the loss of five wickets from their 50 overs. Many of the batsmen ‘chipped in’ with positive contributions, but it was Joe Breet with 57 runs and Sanjay Malik with a swash-buckling 71 runs not out who ensured the team achieved a defendable total.   

In reply, Trowbridge struggled against the accuracy of the Warminster bowlers and were dismissed for 154 runs in the 38th over.  Five different bowlers took wickets, but Brad Small recorded the best figures with three wickets for 40 runs.

Saturday 29th August sees the last round of fixtures of the season for all three of the Warminster Cricket Club teams, with the 2nd XI at home.