Wiltshire CCC Men's 1st XI kick off NCCA T20 season with double header versus Herefordshire
NCCA T20 competition
Herefordshire CCC v Wiltshire CCC
Eastnor Cricket Club, 25th May 2025
Match 1
A sizeable crowd gathered at the picturesque Eastnor cricket ground with the Eastnor Steam & Vintage Rallye gathering at the nearby Eastnor Castle. With The Landrover Experience also nearby this proved a popular venue for many people enjoying a rain free Bank Holiday Sunday. Could the cricketers serve up equally attractive entertainment in their T20 double header? More than 600 runs with 22 sixes did the trick!
The first game saw Wiltshire win the toss and opt to field. Herefordshire scored an impressive 169 for 6 with OJ Walker leading the way with 62 (42 balls, 8X4, 2X6) until Wiltshire skipper Ed Young bowled him finishing with 2 for 24 from his 4 overs. Alfie Johnson took 2 for 33 with Rhys Baker and Archie Fairfax-Ross each picking up a wicket. Wiltshire held their catches with Will Naish providing very safe hands in the deep to hold 3 catches in this match and 5 on the day. Josh Kelly held the other catch.
Wiltshire rose to the challenge superbly with Wadworth Man of the Day,Jack Mynott, 77 not out (60 balls, 9X4 and 1X6) and Will Naish,14, putting on 71 for the first wicket. When Naish was out this brought Jake Goodwin to the crease. Goodwin continued the onslaught and followed up a century for his club on Saturday to hit an impressive 53 (30 balls, 4X4, 4X6) before being caught. Josh Kelly joined Mynott for the last few balls to help Wiltshire to a fine victory – 172 for 2 with 5 balls to spare. The Herefordshire total meant that the result was always finely balanced until Jake Goodwin hit 3 sixes in succession to put Wiltshire firmly in control.
Wiltshire CCC beat Herefordshire by 8 wickets
Match 2
After some splendid Herefordshire hospitality (including a Pavlova with ‘genuine’ Herefordshire Strawberries and cream!) the second match began. Herefordshire opted to bat first and set an equally challenging target of 163 for 9. William Brown, 3 for 24, removed both openers by scattering their stumps and then picked up a third wicket thanks to another fine catch from Will Naish. OJ Walker , 37 (20 balls, 4X4, 2X6) once again led the way with only wicket keeper Powell 32 (25 balls, 5X4) adding more than 30. However, everyone contributed enough runs to allow Herefordshire to reach 163 for 9.
Will Naish added 2 more catches including a sharp caught and bowled when Rudge hit the ball firmly and straight to Will’s ankle. Rhys Baker, Archie Fairfax-Ross and Ed Young each picked up a wicket with the other wicket falling to an excellent run out thanks to Jack Mynott’s consistent boundary fielding.
Sadly, Wiltshire’s reply in this game never really got going as Wiltshire lost wickets steadily At 52 for 7 a three figure total looked unlikely, but Jonathan Sadler 35 not out (36 balls, 1X4, 2X6) restored some pride as he posted his best score for Wiltshire and suggested there will be more to come! Alfie Johnson, 17, moved the score on from 52 for 7 to 100 for 8 with Sadler before falling to JW Rudge. Rudge surprised the Wiltshire batters as he was 0 for 32 from just 2.1 overs in the first match, but an astonishing 5 for 10 from his 4 overs in the second match to reduce Wiltshire to a disappointing 113 all out.
So, honours even after an entertaining day’s cricket at Eastnor. Both teams can take confidence from their respective victories with Wiltshire needing more consistency in order to progress in the competition. The 30th May sees Wiltshire take on Glamorgan for both men’s ( 5:00pm) and ladies (1:00pm) XIs at Swindon CC. Next up in the NCCA competition is the double header with Devon at Bemerton, home of South Wilts CC, on Sunday 8th June.
Herefordshire beat Wiltshire CCC by 50 runs
Roy Honeybone, May 2025
