Wiltshire CCC Men open NCCA Championship campaign with draw against Wales
Wiltshire CCC v Wales NC
NCCA Cluberly Championship Western Div 2
Salisbury & South Wilts Sports Club
Sunday 20th - Tuesday 22nd July 2025
Day 1
After several weeks of heatwave conditions and the ground resembling a scorched earth, players, officials and supporters arrived at Bemerton hoping for 3 days of entertaining cricket. But no one told the rolling cumulo-nimbus clouds who decided that the square and outfield could do with a spot of rain! Ever-hopeful everyone waited for the return of the sun to enable at least some play on Day 1. After taking an early lunch (and tea!) play eventually got underway just before five o’clock. Wales had won the toss and chosen to field first.
Wiltshire found batting tricky and were soon in trouble with 3 wickets down and just 38 runs on the board. The main destroyer was RD Edwards who finished with (19-3-78-6) 6 wickets and 3 catches when the innings closed on Monday. Jack Mynott made a valuable 40 runs before becoming one of Edwards’ victims and Jake Goodwin (25) before being out LBW to JA Davies as Wiltshire found themselves struggling on 86 for 5, Chris Aubrey and Tom Cheater helped to make a slight and encouraging recovery as they took the score on to 125 for 5 overnight.
Day 2
Any interruption to play can often bring about a wicket and this was the case for Wiltshire as they had only added 8 runs to their overnight score when Chris Aubrey (29) was dismissed. A mere 7 runs later and Tom Cheater (25) followed him back into the pavilion 140 for 7. Josh Croom,(12),then came to the crease to face his Penzance teammate Brad Wadlan. He avoided being dismissed by a teammate, but was next to go with score 157 for 8. Next came a game changing partnership between William Brown (84) and Ben Higton (34) who put on a magnificent 122 before they departed within 2 runs of each other both falling to boundary catches as they had been boosting the run rate. And so Wiltshire reached the very presentable total of 281 in 79.5 overs.
It then became the task of the Wales batters to see if they could overhaul the Wiltshire total. Chris Aubrey made sure they could not as he took the final wicket with the last ball of the day to see Wales dismissed for 206 with Wiltshire taking a 75 run lead into Day 3. Wadworth Man of the Match Chris Aubrey not only took 5 wickets, but did it in miserly fashion only conceding 34 runs in 19.4 overs with 9 maidens. There were also wickets for Ben Higton 2, William Brown, Tom Cheater and Joe King. Tom Cheater and wicketkeeper Jake Goodwin helped the bowlers by taking 3 catches each. Several batters made starts for Wales but skipper Herring was the best with 31. RD Edwards was the last to fall having troubled Wiltshire by taking 6 wickets and 3 catches as he became Chris Aubery’s 5th victim and Jake Goodwin’s 3rd catch.
Day 3
Wiltshire took a 75 run lead into day 3 as they began their 2nd innings. Jonathan Sadler was the first to go dismissed by RD Edwards, tormentor of Wiltshire in the first innings 6 for 1. Edwards was unable to complete his 6th over because of injury. Jack Mynott caught JA Davies bowled Tom Dinnis for 21 was the next to go 29 for 2. Skipper Ed Young showed he meant business with a quickfire 33 from 25 balls until he unfortunately skied a ball that was taken comfortably by the Wales wicketkeeper Captain CL Herring 75 for 3. Josh Kelly had shown dogged determination in accumulating 28 runs until he was the fourth wicket to fall 105 for 4. However, these were the last to fall as Jake Goodwin 65 not out (68balls, 9x4, 2x6) and Tom Cheater 50 not out (41 balls, 6x4, 2x6) build a commanding lead for Wiltshire with an unbeaten 5th wicket partnership of 101 , Wiltshire then 206 for 4 declared, set Wales a target of 282 to win.
After the openers were dismissed - Hugo Caldicott LBW to William Brown for 28 (from 118 balls) and Harry Friend LBW to Josh Croom 13 (from 36 balls) It appeared that Wales were content to play for the draw and deny Wiltshire victory. Croom and Brown each took another wicket. Joe King trapped Cian Davies LBW and Wadworth Man of the Match Chris Aubrey bowled the dangerous Brad Wadlan, but Alex Russell 18 not out and Aaron Davies 25 not out stood firm as Wales closed on 142 for 6.
Wiltshire were dominant for most of this match and should take confidence into their next Championship matches. They were left to wonder what might have been had they not lost so much time to the weather. A special mention must go to Tom Cheater who responded quickly to an emergency that could easily have become a tragedy. He leapt into a runaway car that was rolling down the slope and brought it to a halt before it caused any damage or injury. Well played Tom!
Roy Honeybone, July 2025
