Wiltshire CCC Men fall to narrow defeat in Marlborough Cup

May 2, 2025

Wiltshire CCC v Berkshire CCC Sunday 27^th April 2025

Marlborough Cup at Thatcham CC

https://wiltshireccc.play-cricket.com/website/results/6788183

A very pleasant and warm, sunny day saw Wiltshire and Berkshire contest the annual Marlborough Cup pre-season challenge. Berkshire won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Openers Tom Cheater 69 and Jack Mynott 22 put on 57 for the first wicket at a good rate. This start was built on by Jake Goodwin 51 and Josh Kelly 72 not out from 69 balls. Some excellent catches saw Berkshire contain Wiltshire to a competitive 276 for 8 from their 50 overs. Josh Lincoln 4 for 55 posed the biggest threat with 2 wickets each for Andy Rishton and Sully Akhtar.

In reply Berkshire set off at an explosive rate with Archie Carter 63 and Rhys Lewis 42 going at a rate in excess of 10 runs per over. Wiltshire eventually managed to put the brakes on with Ben Higton 3 for 33 making inroads with Will Naish and Alfie Johnson taking 2 apiece and Charan Chahal removing the dangerous Archie Carter with the score on 153 for 4. Wicket keeper Andrew MacEwen 29 and high scoring Euan Woods 72 moved the score on to 222 for 5 and the run rate favouring Berkshire due to their explosive start. Wiltshire took some excellent catches of their own with wicket keeper Jake Goodwin taking 2 including an excellent full-length dive. Tom Cheater also dived at full length to hold on to a potential match winning catch to dismiss Euan Woods. Other catches were held by Nathan Feltham, Ed Young, Archie Fairfax-Ross and Josh Kelly. However, the 9^th wicket pair saw Berkshire home with 16 balls to spare as they closed on 278 for 8. Just when Wiltshire thought they had a good chance Dan Lincoln hit successive sixes to ease Berkshire to victory.

All-in-all an impressive pre-season contest with plenty of potential shown by both sides. A competitive game played in the right spirit and appreciated by fans of both teams. Next week the serious competition begins as Wiltshire take on Cheshire CCC at Marlborough College on Sunday 4^th May and Wales at Warminster CC on Monday 5^th May.

Roy Honeybone, April 2025