Wiltshire share the points with Devon after two T20 games

North Devon CC, Instow

Sunday, May 24

Game 1

On the hottest day of the year so far, Wiltshire travelled down to the picturesque venue of North Devon CC at Instow.

Supporters of either side plus several itinerant spectators were treated to some absorbing cricket.

Wiltshire won the toss and chose to field first.

Devon made good use of the power play and had 50 on the board in 6.1 overs with Ben Privett 28 and Seb Linnitt 40 looking dangerous.

They slowed down after the power play, and Wiltshire began taking wickets with regularity and bowled Devon out for just 114.

The bowlers worked well as a team, and there were two wickets each for Stan Brown, Alfie Johnson and Ed Young plus one apiece for newcomer Sam Freestone and Archie Fairfax-Ross.

Passenger b Brown 7 Stump broken. (Image: Roy Honeybone)

Sharp fielding saw runouts claimed by Sam Freestone and Jake Goodwin.

The Wiltshire innings followed a similar pattern with a blistering 35 from just 15 balls for Wadworth Man of the Day Tom Cheater.

Jake Goodwin 18 and Cyrus Shafi 21 helped Wiltshire towards their target, but as the run rate slowed down, so the pressure built, causing Wiltshire to lose four wickets to runouts and fall agonisingly short of their target by just two runs.

Game 2

The lunch interval was followed by another equally absorbing game.

Devon won the toss and decided to bat first.

This time around, Wiltshire took early wickets, and Devon were 30 for three after the power play.

However, James Matravers, 75 not out, held the innings together, and by the end, they had reached 154 for six.

Sam Read gave most support with 38 until he was caught on the boundary by Jack Mynott from a Sam Freestone delivery.

There were wickets for Stan Brown two plus a wicket apiece for Archie Pascoe, Sam Freestone, Archie Fairfax-Ross and Alfie Johnson.

In their reply, Wiltshire began strongly and had 50 on the board in just 4.1 overs.

Wadworth Man of the Day Tom Cheater carried on where he left off and hit a commanding 55 from just 23 balls.

Wadworth Man of the Match Tom Cheater. (Image: Roy Honeybone)

A couple of wickets fell cheaply, and Wiltshire had to work hard to maintain the necessary strike rate.

Ed Young 10, Cyrus Shafi 17 and Will Naish 17 all helped Wiltshire towards their total.

Will, in particular, pushed the score from 88 for five to 144 for six alongside Stan Brown, who hit a vital 42 not out and was there at the finish alongside Alfie Johnson with nine needed from the final over.

Stan Brown relieved some of the pressure with a four from the first ball of the over, which was spilled by a fielder on the boundary and on another day might have been a six or out.

Stan took a single from the next ball, meaning that four were required from the last four deliveries.

Alfie Johnson swung the bat and missed the next three deliveries, so with just one delivery left, four runs were still needed.

This time Alfie did connect and watched the ball fly back over the bowler’s head for a magnificent six and victory for Wiltshire as the heart rate of their fans was able to stabilise again.

At the end of the day, honours were even with one victory each to begin their respective T20 campaigns.

I am sure that lessons will be learnt by both sides as they strive for success in their remaining matches.

Next up for Wiltshire is another double header of T20 matches against Cornwall CCC at Westbury and District CC on Sunday, May 31.

Report by Roy Honeybone