Marlborough’s first team entertained Royal Wootton Basset on Saturday in their final pre-season game. Marlborough produced a solid all round performance before the rain curtailed the game after 25 overs of the 2nd innings.
Tom Jacques won the toss and on what looked a soft, sticky wicket invited the visitors to bat first. RWB got off to a very steady start, despite the loss of their first wicket with the score on 19 when Dave West ran out Jack Twine in the 5th over.
Sam Lawro and Darren Beasant then shared in a 79 partnership and took the score to 92 before Beasant was caught by Pete Day off Ben Head’s bowling for 25. Lawro followed 18 runs later for a very impressive 65 of 72 balls, before being caught by Arran Dickinson off West’s bowling in the 22nd over.
The visitors then lost wickets on a regular basis due to some fine fielding by Marlborough, which saw them snap up 7 catches on the day with RWB closing on 171 for 8 after their 50 overs. Again, for the second week running, the bowlers shared in the wickets with Brad Frost, Tom Jacques and Head all collecting a pair each.
In response Marlborough got off to a bad start, with the loss of Nick Crabbe in the 2nd over for 1 when he was bowled by Akash Sharma. Jacques and the incoming James Richardson then added 37 together before Sharma collected his second wicket of the day by bowling Richardson for 18.
With the weather deteriorating steadily Jacques and Dickinson had added a further 27 when Jacques was bowled by Ian Lancaster for 30. Dickinson departed soon after for 13, before Day and Frost both 25 not out, saw the home side to 126 when the game was finally lost to the rain. Marlborough at the close were comfortably in front of the RWB run rate and would have won the game by 40 runs if it had been a league game.
Marlborough Captain Tom Jacques said after the game. “I think we performed very well today as a team. We produced a good all round performance, especially in the field in the first innings. I thought our commitment and effort today was first class and one the boys should be very proud of.” Jacques also went on to thank RWB for their efforts for persevering in the field in the second innings when the weather conditions were not helpful.
Marlborough 2’s were also in a very strong position when their game was also lost to the weather after the 10th over of the second innings. Marlborough had set a highly respectful 265 for 6 declared off 39 overs with Tom Palmer top scoring with 153 not out. His innings included 19 fours and 5 sixes.
Marlborough Town Ladies hold tough rivals to a draw
