Match Report
West Of England Premier League (Wilts Division)
Marlborough v Calne 30th May 2015
Marlborough 261-8: Calne 78 all out
Marlborough won by 183 Runs
Match Sponsor: Chris’ Barbershop
Marlborough’s Ben Head blew through the Calne batting line up on Saturday with a master class in spin bowling. Head took 5 wickets in just 24 deliveries for only 9 runs in which he also secured his first league hat trick with his last 3 deliveries of the day to secure Marlborough a very comfortable 183 run win.
Marlborough having been put into bat by the visitors were 83 for 4 when Marlborough Captain Arran Dickinson joined debutant Will Thomas at the crease. The pair slowly built on the Marlborough total with Thomas playing around Dickinson who despite Calne’s defensive field settings regularly found the boundary.
The pair had shared in a 133 run partnership and had taken the home side to 216 -5 when Dickinson was eventually dismissed for 88. His innings had lasted for 76 balls and had included ten 4’s and three 6’s with the partnership putting Marlborough in a very strong position to secure their 4th successive win of the season. Thomas secured his debut half century and was next to be dismissed but with the lower Marlborough batting order all playing for the cause Marlborough posted 261-8.
Calne in reply got off to a bad start with Tom Nott being trapped LBW by Brad Frost 2nd ball and with Glen Robinson’s dismissal 8 balls later when caught by Frost off Will Langton’s bowling the visitors found themselves 3 for 2. Calne never recovered and with the dismissals of Sean Adams (21) and Matthew Richards (25) Calne were there for the taking.
Ben Head dismissed James Watson and Joseph Clare at the end of 17th over to set up his first hat trick opportunity which was thwarted by Richards on the first ball of Head’s next over. Head however was to be rewarded 17 balls later with his first WEPL League hat trick when he dismissed Tom Crosby, Dale Goss and George Nott in the 23rd over to dismiss Calne for 78 and 183 runs short of the Marlborough total. Head finished with 5 for 17 off his 6 overs and was the pick of the Marlborough bowlers who again produced a team performance with all of them taking a share in the wickets.
Marlborough Captain Arran Dickinson was delighted with the win and to find that his side now topped the Wiltshire Division following Trowbridge’s 83 run loss to Marshfield.
“It’s been another great all round team performance today which was built around some good individual performances. The bowlers all responded well with the absence of George Fox and we always knew we had Ben (Head) up our sleeves. I’m also very pleased for Will (Thomas) in getting a half century on debut which I know is well deserved for all the hard work he has put in since arriving at the club. Going top this weekend is an added bonus but again is something I think we fully deserve based on our recent performances.”