Wiltshire CCC narrowly miss out on qualification for Unicorns T20 Finals Day

Wiltshire played host to the final round of T20 matches that would decide which team would be attending Finals Day.  Dorset held the upper hand as they had previously won all 6 of their matches.  However, Wiltshire could catch them if they were able to inflict two defeats on the day.

For a while it looked as though Wiltshire may be beaten by the weather, but eventually the umpires signaled that the first game could begin at 12:30pm.  The time lost to the weather meant that each side would now bat for just 13 overs in the first game.  It was not looking good for Wiltshire when the first five  wickets fell cheaply. The score at 40 for 5 brought together  Neil Clark 32 ( 3 sixes) and Brad Dawson 19 not out (2 sixes) .  These two both stabilized and accelerated the Wiltshire innings adding a precious 46 runs for the 6th wicket. Bradley Currie had been Dorset’s most effective bowler with 3 for 13 from his  3 overs. Wiltshire closed on 88 for 6

The Dorset reply progressed steadily, but the first 3 batsmen fell to catches from wicketkeeper Tom Morton. The experienced Tahir Afridi caused problems throughout the innings finishing with 4 wickets for just 13 runs. Skipper Ed Young and Jake Goodwin each held two catches.  When Jake Goodwin caught Alex Eckland it was the result of a moment of magic from Neil Clark. Racing to catch the ball as it was heading for a mighty six Clark had the presence of mind to leap as he took the catch and throw it to Goodwin before tumbling over the boundary. Wiltshire managed to contain Dorset who finished with 83 for 8 from their 13 overs. A hard earned victory and two precious points for Wiltshire.

This meant that everything was now to be decided in the final game.  Although victory would bring Wiltshire level on points with Dorset the eventual winners would be decided by net run rate over the eight games each team would have played.  Wiltshire won the toss and opted to field first. Dorset started positively with Sam Young 27 and Lewis McManus 22 leading the way.  The only other batsman to get past 20 was the experienced Max Waller 25.  Arthur Godsal took 3 for 20 with two wickets in the final over.  There were two wickets each for Ed Young and Tahir Afridi as Dorset were eventually bowled out for 127 with 3 balls to spare.

Someone who understood the complicated mathematics suggested that in order to win a place in the finals Wiltshire would need to score the runs in just 15.5 overs. Wiltshire found themselves in trouble with three wickets lost for just 7 runs,  Ed Young 23 and Jake Lintott 25 got them back on track and Dawson, Clark, Afridi and Godsal all got into double figures to push the score along.  The pressure probably caused the players to make the occasional rash judgement as wickets tumbled and made the task steadily harder.  Eventually Wiltshire were dismissed in 15.2 overs for 113 after having put up a brave fight on the day. Currie, Waller and McCoy took two wickets each with three players run out and one wicket for Jigar Naik.  Ironically the final wicket to fall saw Arthur Godsal fall to another excellent catch on the day.  He had launched a splendid shot that was sailing over the boundary BUT (!)  Sam Young had obviously taken note of Neil Clark’s fielding prowess as he leapt in the air to take the catch and throw the ball to Jigar Naik before landing outside the boundary.  All in all a splendid example of quality cricket at it’s best.  Good luck to Dorset on Finals day.

Next Sunday/Monday/Tuesday (June 23/24/25th) Wiltshire play their first match in the Unicorns County Championship Western Division against Cheshire at Chester Broughton Hall C C starting at 11.00am each day.

Wiltshire Team v Cheshire

• Ed Young (Valley End) (c)
• Tahir Afridi  (Potterne)
• Neil Clark (Potterne)
• Brad Dawson (Goatacre)
• Luke Evans (South Wilts)
• Jake Goodwin (Potterne)
• Will Harries (South Wilts)
• Joe King (Goatacre)
• Jake Lintott (Clevedon)
• Tom Morton (South Wilts) (w/k)
• Uzi Qureshi (Frocester)