Cricket: Marlborough 1sts bounce straight back with an emphatic away victory at Calne

Written by Mark Cooper.

Marlborough Cricket clubs first team bounced back from defeat last week with a vital victory away at Calne which leaves the Savernake Forest based outfit just 2 points off 3rd place Marshfield in the league.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat Tom Norris's men reached 188-9 of their 50 overs thanks mainly to vital middle order contributions from Norris himself with 33 and James Richardson with 31 while opener Ben Head chipped in with 28.

Marlborough's tail them wagged with Mike Bush scoring a vital 32 not out to put Marlborough in a strong position over tea.

Calne's bowling charge was lead by the impressive duo of Julian Kearney 4-32 and Matthew Richards 3-42.  In reply Calne were bowled out for 143 with Marlborough Vice-Skipper Will Langton taking 4-49 ably supported by Paul Smith 2-25 and teenage spin sensation Fraser Gordon 2-24 while Head got the vital  wicket of Calne star man Sean Adams for 37.

Trees skipper Norris was pleased with the bowling and fielding from his side  "Langton bowled with pace and bounce and Smith started excellently and Fraser bowled well.  There was some good catches by myself and Nick Crabbe and a great run out by Smith".
 
Marlborough 2nds lost ground in the promotion hunt after defeat at home to 2nd place Chipping Sodbury in the game kindly sponsored by Steve Offer.

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Cricket: Devizes hold on for narrow victory in rain-shortened match

Written by Mark Cooper.

Marlborough's title hope received a blow at home to Devizes on Saturday in the match very kindly sponsored by Peter Stirland Ltd garage of Hungerford.  

Poor weather in the morning meant that the game was in jeopardy but amazing work from skipper Tom Norris and committee member Martin Smithers who both sopped up gallons of water off the outfield meant that the game went ahead with both sides reduced to 40 overs per side.

Winning the toss and electing to bowl Marlborough's bowlers found the Devizes batsmen in an attacking mood as Devizes reached 153-5 off their 40 overs, with star man Joe Wookey top scoring with 37 while Tim Saye 36 and Jonathan Skull 31 provided excellent support, with trees bowlers George Fox, Ben Head, Alex Cox, Mike Bush and Mark Wingfield-Digby all taking a wicket each.

In reply Marlborough opener and super star Head set out about the task with earnest and when joined by skipper Norris the trees looked to be in a strong position. But after losing Head for 43 and Norris for 25 Marlborough slumped to 92-6.

Young wicket keeper Archie Wheeler with 29 and vice-Captain Will Langton with 19 got Marlborough back in the game but both went and Marlborough fell an agonizing 6 runs short of victory finishing on 148-9 off their 40 overs.  

Trees Skipper Norris was gracious in defeat "Overall the best team won, we were sloppy in the field and didn't put the ball in the right areas.  We lost two early wickets had a slight recovery but losing 5, 6 and 7 killed us though Wheeler and Langton showed a lot of character to almost get us home".
 
Marlborough 2nd game away to Biddestone fell victim to the weather.

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Cricket: Trees back in title hunt with win at Winsley

Written by Mark Cooper.

Marlborough Cricket club are still firmly in the title hunt with a dramatic 11 win away at Winsley.

After losing the toss and being put in Marlborough scored 144-9 of their 50 overs with master stroke man Peter Day top scoring with 38 while Gorge Fox and young wicket keeper batsmen Archie Wheeler made sure the tail wagged with 18 and 17 respectively with Winsley bowlers Kegan Smart, Ben Strange, Simon Orchard and Stuart Hammond sharing 2 wickets each.

Winsley began their innings firmly expecting victory but tight and inspired bowling from Marlborough meant that the Trees bounced back from last week's defeat to near rivals Burbage in style.

Alex Cox took 3-27 while the spin duo of teenage spin sensation Fraser Gordan 2-24 and superstar and trees legend Ben Head 2-19 helped to dismiss Winsley for 133 ensuring a vital victory for the Savernake Forrest based outfit.

Speaking after the game Trees skipper Tom Norris was full of praise for his bowlers" It was awesome bowling from everyone and Alex Cox bowled his first 5 overs for no runs, Peter Day ground out some runs for us and the tail wagged".
 
Marlborough 2nds were also involved in a dramatic game at home to Rockhampton in the game very kindly sponsored by P A Matthews and Co ltd. Marlborough set 180 to win scraped home to win by just 1 wicket. Nick Down's men look firmly on course for a shot at a 2nd successive promotion.

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Cricket: Burbage beat Marlborough in local derby

Written by Mark Cooper.

Marlborough's 3 game winning streak came to an end on Saturday at the hands of fierce local rivals Burbage as Marlborough lost by 8 wickets at Burbage.

Marlborough won the toss and elected to bat scoring 141-8 off their 50 overs.

Opener Nick Crabbe continued his excellent season with 28 while middle order stroke man Peter Day chipped in with 22. George Fox 21 and vice-Captain Will Langton 31 not out  ensured that Marlborough had a decent total to defend while Darren Freegard with figures of 4-44 was the star man with the ball for Burbage.

In reply former New Zealand test star Michael Papps 54 not out and Daniel Wooton 50 not out ensured that Burbage reached their victory target in the 29th over for the loss of just 2 wickets.
 
Speaking after the game Marlborough skipper Tom Norris said "We didn't bat very well but they bowled well. We bowled ok but they had Michael Papps who has scored 9500 first class run!, it was a bad day at the office but on to next week and we are still confident of doing well"
 
Marlborough's 2nd 11 game at home to Dumbleton very kindly sponsored by OJB Plumbing fell victim to the heavy rain

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