Collingbourne II v Biddestone IV.

On the best day of the season so far Collingbourne II gained their second league win of the season.

They won the toss and batted and after 11 overs there were a few worried faces as Collingbourne were 42-2 with young Laura Smith bowling a tight opening spell and removing experienced campaigners John Baxter and Dave Gale.

A wonderful third wicket partnership of 133 in 21 overs between the ever improving Will Atkinson (62), his first league 50, and James Grant (74) followed to get the innings back on track.

The last 13 overs saw another 80 added leaving the home side 255 all out from 44.2 overs.

The pitch, although green, was rock hard and played brilliantly giving good value for the batsmen and yet still interesting the bowlers if they put the ball in the right areas.

The start of the Biddestone innings was almost identical as they were 46-2 from 12 overs with Harry Wilde claiming the openers and finishing with 3-39.

New boy Raj picked up his first club wicket, that of the Biddestone top scorer the dangerous Crystal (39) and Tony Kemsley snaffled two great catches behind the stumpsas the visitors finished 183 all out from 42.2 overs.

Wootton Bassett v Collingbourne.

Collingbourne’s poor form with the bat continued as they were bowled out for 105 on a hard pitch in 37.5 overs.

With the possible exceptions of Graham Chandler, Mark Douglas and some late hitting by Jon Candler and Ryan Proud in the tail, all the batsmen will feel they should have done better on a track which offered no real demons.

Bassett’s bowlers kept a good line and the fielders backed them up as they looked to gain extra points from the game.

Bassett’s openers scored 50 each reaching Collingbourne’s score in 18 overs.

Collingbourne now go into the Swindon Nalgo game with a completely fresh outlook and clean slate, effectively starting the season again.