NCCA Counties

Match report by Roy Honeybone ...Wiltshire continued their NCCA Trophy journey with a visit to Welwyn GC CC. Lulled into a false sense of security by the warm pleasant weather of Saturday, players and supporters were disappointed by the arctic conditions of Sunday! (But it didn’t rain). The toss was won by Hertfordshire who opted to field first. The overcast conditions looked as though they might favour the opening bowlers. When Tom Cheater took 14 (2 x 4, 1x6) from the opening over the decision to field looked doubtful. Although Tom fell in the next over to Chinmay Mullapudi (2 for 46) the score moved on to 120 before the next wicket fell. Jack Mynott 49 and Jake Goodwin were both on 49 when Jack misjudged a ball and fell LBW to Hertfordshire skipper Ben Waring. However, this brought Wiltshire skipper Ed Young 50 (4 x 4, 2 x 6) to the crease and he put on 105 with Jake taking the score to 225 for 3 and Jake now on 93 not out. Ed was another LBW victim but Will Naish 32 (3x4, 1x6) joined Jake to move the score on to 286 for 4. Stan Brown 12 (2x4) joined Jake Goodwin (Wadworth Man of the Match) who finished on a splendid 137 not out (13 x 4, 4 x 6) in the challenging total of 314 for 4.After a tasty lunch with a mouth-watering pudding and excellent hospitality from our Hertfordshire hosts, the serious business began for Hertfordshire. They began well with Archie Harrison 28 (5 x 4) in particular going well despite losing his opening partner with the score on 24 for 1, one of two LBWs to Chris Aubrey (2 for 39).Archie then lost Jacob Gordon caught Alfie Johnson bowled Stan Brown (2 for 31) and Finn Kelsey - Chris Aubrey’s second LBW. Harrison was next to fall caught and bowled by Stan Brown. The required run rate had, by this time, looked beyond Hertfordshire and only Ben Clifford 60 (from 63 balls, 10x4, 1x6) offered any real resistance until he became the seventh wicket to fall, LBW to Alfie Johnson (1 for 31).Archie Pascoe removed Naiveedyam Dwivedi for 19. Joe King bowled wicket keeper Cole Seggery for 14 and it was left to Charan Chahal to complete the rout having Chinmay Mullapudi (31) caught by Joe King and Ben Waring LBW. With 9 wickets down Hertfordshire were all out on 197 for 9 as Dan Orchard was unable to bat having come off the field injured after bowling 6 overs.With three wins from their three games Wiltshire are in pole position, but a victory next Sunday 17th May at Warminster, against a strong Berkshire side would put the icing on the cake! The batters have all shown how capable they are and the bowlers, as a unit, work well together whoever takes the wickets. Good luck gentlemen!