Wiltshire CCC Men finish the season in style with 3 day victory over Shropshire

NCCA Cluberly Championship – Western Division 2

Shropshire CCC v Wiltshire CCC

17th – 19th August 2025 @ Bridgnorth CC

Wiltshire finish the season in style

Day 1

Wiltshire won the toss and elected to bat first on yet another hot sunny day. Debutant Max Dunne and Jonny Sadler got the game under way with Sadler 41 combining with Josh Kelly 76 (141 balls , 10x4) to add  115 for the 2nd wicket. The departure of Kelly saw the arrival of  Jake Goodwin to partner skipper Ed Young. This partnership added 177 for the 4th wicket. Goodwin 75 (107 balls, 8x4) and Young 123 not out ( 148 balls, 15x4, 2x6) made the Shropshire players toil in the sun with fine shots all around the wicket. The score rose to a commanding 315 for 4 until Jake Goodwin fell to the first of three lbw decisions, two for Cameron Jones, 4 for 69, the pick of the Shropshire bowlers with support from Joe Stanley, 3 for 102 .  Ed Young stood firm and added valuable runs with Charan Chahal 20 and  Thomas Vermaak 16 as the Wiltshire innings closed on 388 for 9.

Shropshire had 16 overs to negotiate in the final session of the day. Harry Chandler 43 and Oliver Parton 25 put on 52 for the 1st wicket before both were removed by Tom Vermaak as Chris Aubrey and keeper Jake Goodwin took the catches.  This brought night watchman Joe Stanley in with the experienced Shropshire captain Thomas Fell. At the close of play they were 87 for 2.

Day 2

Fell and Stanley progressed the score to 169 before Stanley, 47, fell thanks to a catch by Max Dunne from the bowling of Frocester teammate Will Naish. With the score at 214 Fell ,71 (89 balls, 13x4) was the next to fall with Max Dunne taking another valuable catch with Charan Chahal the bowler.  It was beginning to look like Shropshire would post as much as 400, but Tom Vermaak  (4 for 89) took a 3rd wicket with Josh Kelly holding on to remove Ben Roberts caught Jake Goodwin  and a 4th wicket when Warrick Finn, the last to fall,  was removed for 55 caught Josh Kelly.  Wily campaigner Joe King with 3 for 32 from 16 overs helped to limit the Shropshire total with further catches for Chris Aubrey and Josh Kelly and an lbw decision to remove keeper Ben Lees. Cameron Jones was splendidly run out with a direct hit by Josh Kelly as Shropshire were dismissed for 309 giving Wiltshire 1st innings lead of 79.

Wiltshire were hoping to build on this lead and to set Shropshire a challenging declaration. An inauspicious start saw Wiltshire reduced to 3 for 3 and Shropshire in the ascendancy. Ed Young 25 and Jake Goodwin 24 steadied the ship. Chris Aubrey 41 helped to boost the score but they were all dismissed along with Charan Chahal leaving Wiltshire on a disappointing 149 for 7.  However, this team has plenty of ability as well as determination and character.  Will Naish 73 not out and Stan Brown 31 not out steered Wiltshire safely through the last overs of the day to see the total rise to 215 for 7 and a lead of 296.

Day 3

The weather had certainly changed since the first day with the sun struggling to emerge through the dark clouds gathering and the temperature a few degrees lower. Wiltshire were hoping to set a challenging declaration.  Will Naish 113 not out (114 balls, 9x4, 4x6) provided a firm backbone for the innings ably supported by Stan Brown 49 as he was cruelly denied a worthy half century by George McCormick 3 for 40. Cameron Jones 3 for 75 and Joe Stanley 2 for 63 were again in the wickets thanks to some fine catches notably by Ben Lees who took four. Wiltshire closed on 281  and a commanding lead of 360.

The game continued to ebb and flow with the advantage switching between Wiltshire and Shropshire.  Shropshire kept well within the run rate required with opener Harry Chandler 71 holding the innings together well until becoming one of Joe King’s 5 victims. His fellow opener Oliver Parton 43 also fell to Joe King. Tom Fell 29 became the only  victim of pace bowling in the 2nd innings when Stan Brown saw Will Naish take one of 3 significant catches. Charan Chahal 2 for 36 and Ed Young 2 for 36. Despite losing wickets Shropshire had maintained the necessary run rate required.  Joe Stanley 61 held the tail together until he became the 5th victim of Joe King as the ball flew from his bat into the grateful hands of jubilant Wiltshire skipper Ed Young on the boundary. Wiltshire won by 55 runs and ended their Championship season unbeaten. There were joint Wadworth Man of the Match Awards earned by Joe King for his tireless efforts and significant wickets and by Will Naish for a commanding, game changing century and important catches.

With a positive end to the season Wiltshire find themselves at the top of the Western Division 2 table, but they can be overhauled by either Dorset or Cheshire when they play their final games. This fact doesn’t prevent the Wiltshire players and supporters from appreciating the team spirit engendered by Ed Young and the potential for the future with several emerging players contributing to the team’s success.  Winter well gentlemen and we shall look forward to seeing you again next year.

Roy Honeybone, August 2025

Wiltshire beat Shropshire by 55 runs