Thrilling win for Wiltshire CCC as the Men make it 3 from 3 with victory over Wales
Warminster was the venue for a most entertaining and nail-biting game of cricket today. We were kept waiting by the weather, but eventually play was able to begin after a lengthy delay which reduced the game to 33 overs per side. Having won the toss Wales elected to field and leaving Wiltshire to set a target. Wiltshire were reduced to 81 for 3 with Goodwin 26, Cullen and Young all falling to catches. However, this brought Ben Draper 58 (5 x 4, 1 x 6) in to join Jack Mynott 64 (4 x 2, 2 x 6) and these two maintained an excellent strike rate in a 100 run partnership. Wiltshire debutant, Potterne’s Josh Kelly, had a superb baptism with an enterprising 34 from just 16 balls including two well executed reverse scoops, 3 fours and 2 sixes. Josh was run out from the very last ball having helped Wiltshire to an impressive 236 for 7 from their 33 overs. The other 6 wickets were shared equally by Edwards, Jaspal and Wadlan. Wadlan also took 2 catches to dismiss the Wiltshire openers so he was having a good game which he maintained with the bat.
Wiltshire were aware of the strength of the Welsh batting and were not surprised as first Smale 43 and Nicholls 24 added 55 for the second wicket and then Brad Wadlan 74 not out and Herring 30 added 60 for the 5th wicket. The Wiltshire bowlers persevered against the onslaught and Burton and Godsal removed the openers before skipper Ed Young took 3 valuable wickets including Welsh captain Sam Pearce. Wadworth Man of the Match Harry Broderick removed Nicholls in his first spell and then came back in devastating fashion to take 2 more wickets with his first two deliveries of his second spell once removing the bails and the second caught by Arthur Godsal. Both sides had proved to be extremely competent in their ability to catch the ball with catches also taken by Mynott, Goodwin, Cullen, Burton and Kelly. Broderick was then given the responsibility of bowling at the death with Arthur Godsal. Meanwhile amidst all the action Brad Wadlan stood firm as he worked towards a fine 74 not out, He kept Wales very much in touch with the required run rate and the last over came with Wadlan still there and tailender Harding at the other end. Just five runs from the penultimate over by Godsal meant that 14 were required to win the game. Unsurprisingly the in form Wadlan was reluctant to expose his teammate to the challenge but this produced 3 dot balls from Broderick! The fourth ball was despatched for 6 and the 5th ball was heading to the boundary but a fine stop by Kelly meant that it produced just a single. Broderick finished proceedings with another dot ball and the Wiltshire players mobbed their Wadworth Man of the Match Harry Broderick.
Wiltshire had won a highly entertaining and competitive match by just 6 runs to cement their place as quarter finalists. Commiserations to the Welsh team who were the unfortunate losers in this fantastic game of cricket. And maybe, just maybe, an often overlooked factor in the result of any sporting contest, perhaps luck had played its part? If so, it was with Wiltshire today – long may that continue!!!
Wiltshire beat Wales by 6 runs
