Match Report
West Of England Premier League (Wilts Division)
Marlborough v Trowbridge 2nd July 2016
Trowbridge 79 all out; Marlborough 80-6
Marlborough won by 4 wickets
Marlborough hosted table toppers Trowbridge on a day that was lucky to see cricket played. The grounds team have had to work hard this week just to see the game played.
Marlborough won the toss and elected to bowl first. The bowling department needed to build on from the difficulties that they had faced the week before and they quickly put any challenges they had faced to bed when Balusu struck in the fourth over of the day, bowling Pieterson who opted to play off the back foot. Oakley followed shortly, looking unsure of where his stumps were.
This brought Julyan and Louw to the crease, both looking to dominate the bowling. However, neither were able to do so and the two opening bowlers respectfully took their second wickets.
Fox took himself off and brought Smith into the attack where he instantly looked to trouble the Trowbridge batsmen. In a bizarre turn of events Smith took over from last weekend where he took another five wicket haul where he blew the Trowbridge middle order apart. Mike Reynolds received a ball that Shane Warne would have been happy to bowl which bowled the dangerous number five. The Trowbridge innings came to an end and they were all out for 79.
At the interval there was clear knowledge that the low total would be hard to get. The two experienced openers looked set fair in the first two overs, however Crabbe received a Warne like ball form Louw which turned prestigiously. Every run was going to be a struggle as Trowbridge applied significant pressure. Day was unlucky to be caught behind for 14 and with only Painter managing to get to double figures, Marlborough were unable to build the partnership that would seal off the game. Homani and Langton both top scored with 19 each, Langton continues to play some clinical and effective shots. Marlborough eventually won by four wickets; suitably with man-of-the-match Smith hitting the winning runs.
Marlborough host the new table toppers Marshfield this week as we have reached the mid-point of the season winning five and losing three.
