Defeat for Wiltshire CCC in NCCA Trophy versus Dorset
Wiltshire CCC v Dorset CCC - NCCA Trophy
The Leaze, Wimborne CC
Sunday 11th May 2025
A local derby between Dorset and Wiltshire saw a sizeable crowd gather at The Leaze, home of Wimborne CC. The recent fine weather continued, but without the cold wind and so it was sun cream and sunglasses the order of the day.
Wiltshire won the toss and opted to bat first. Jack Mynott 19 and Jake Lintott 14 put on 35 for the first wicket, Joe Carson then had a double strike first removing Jake Lintott with a standard catch from a top edge for Will Tripcony and then having Jake Goodwin adjudged LBW from his very next ball – 35 for 0 became 35 for 2. Tom Cheater 25, then settled in scoring at a good rate. Jack Mynott then became the first victim of Connor Smith, who weaved considerable magic to remove 7 Wiltshire batters, – tempting them all to give the Dorset fielders catching practice. A very real fear of failing to make a three figure total was allayed by Archie Fairfax-Ross who top scored with a vital 34. He was aided and abetted firstly by Jack Campbell, 8, who helped Wiltshire past the 100 mark and then in a partnership of 27 for the 10th wicket by newcomer Rhys Baker who managed to stay with him, enabling Archie to score those valuable runs and push the total up to 143.
The Dorset reply got underway with openers Luke Webb, the Dorset captain partnered by Wiltshire old boy Dylan Church who came back to haunt his former team mates. These two put on 94 before Dylan Church, 50, became the only Dorset victim, bowled by Jake Lintott. Luke Webb stood firm and hit the winning boundary in a chanceless 60 not out. He had been joined by Joseph Eckland 24 not out and these two saw Dorset ease their way past the Wiltshire total with comparative ease.
An away trip to Hertfordshire comes next. The Wiltshire players are all very able cricketers and they must lick their wounds and apply themselves to the challenge presented by Hertfordshire. Should Dorset beat Cheshire then Wiltshire could still qualify as runners up in their group if they can beat Hertfordshire. Today was not their finest hour, but next Sunday is another day and an opportunity to show some self-belief and aim to reach their undoubted potential.
Roy Honeybone, May 2025
