Warminster CC 1st XI record back-to-back victories

Warminster Cricket Club 1st XI recorded an incredibly exciting eight wicket victory over the Westbury CC 1st XI on Saturday 1st August.

Warminster won the toss, elected to field and were quickly rewarded by reducing the opposition to 58 runs for the loss of six wickets.  However, the Westbury middle order batsmen fought themselves back into the game and were finally dismissed for 218 runs in the 48th over.

Warminster’s reply saw the loss of two early wickets, but this only led to a superb, unbeaten 180-run partnership between Paul Braithwaite (78 runs not out) and Theo Taylor, who scored an outstanding 102 runs not out.

The Warminster 2nd XI had their first ‘bad day at the office’ match of the season, losing to the Westbury 2nd XI by eight wickets.  Batting first, Warminster started well, with Jude Cierpicki top scoring with 53 runs, but the team then collapsed to 142 runs all out.  In reply, Westbury were never really in trouble and cruised to 145 runs for the loss of only two wickets in the 32nd over.

The 3rd XI also struggled in this round of matches, losing by 106 runs to the Malmesbury CC 2nd XI.  Malmesbury chose to bat and recorded an impressive total of 293 runs off their 45 overs.  Pick of the Warminster bowlers was Mark Evans, who took three wickets for 45 runs.  In response, several of the Warminster batsmen started positively, but they were ultimately unable to convert solid starts into a match defining innings.  Warminster were finally all out for 187 runs.

The weekend of the 8th August saw the second ‘Green Sweep’ of the season, where all three teams won.  The Warminster 1st XI began the proceedings when they recorded an emphatic seven-wicket victory over a Burbage & Easton Royal CC 2nd XI.   

Choosing to bowl first, the Burbage batsmen struggled enormously against the accurate Warminster bowling attack and were bowled out for 91 runs in the 36th over.  All of the bowlers were excellent, although the best figures were achieved by Alex Adlam with four wickets for 22 runs and Paul Braithwaite, who took three wickets for 19 runs.  The result was inevitable, with Warminster scoring the winning runs in the 25th over.

The 2nd XI returned to winning ways with a well-deserved victory over Wroughton Wranglers CC in a much-anticipated top of the table clash.  Warminster batted first and steadily built a commanding total of 276 runs from their 45 overs.  Olly Michael top scored with a fluent 87 runs and Liam Carpenter scored 69 runs in a partnership worth 125 runs.  The Warminster bowlers were also excellent, with Dylan Collier returning the best figures with four wickets for 23 runs.

The 3rd XI recorded a deserved 34-run victory over the Wanborough CC 2nd XI.  Warminster batted first and scored a pleasing 260 runs from their 45 overs, with many of the batsmen making notable contributions.  Callum Widdows was the top scorer with 51 runs.

The Wanborough response initially stumbled and then struggled to match the required run rate, although they accelerated towards the end of the match, finishing on 226 runs for nine wickets.  The key wicket takers were Callum Widdows with four wickets for 30 runs and Graham Cuthbertson who took three wickets for 12 runs.

Report: Russell Collier