Melksham continue winning streak!

Saturday 18th June Marlborough 217-8 Melksham 179-6 Melksham win by 4 wickets on DLS

THE 1st XI were successful in their bid to make it five wins from five this weekend, claiming a 4-wicket victory away to Marlborough 2s.  

The 1st innings saw the visitors concede 217-8, with Luke Wilkins emerging as pick-of-the-bowlers with figures of 2-32 off 9 overs. In the end the poor weather came to Melksham’s aid, with the rain throughout the second innings meaning that the target was eventually reduced to 179 on DLS, with the score chased down thanks to fifties from Simon Turner and Russ Collins.  

The afternoon got off to a roaring start when opener Liam Merrett struck in the first ball of the second over. No further breakthroughs were immediately forthcoming though, and by the 10th over Marlborough had gone past 40 to leave the contest on level pegging after the opening stages. The rest of the innings ebbed and flowed between the 2 sides, with Melksham picking up wickets regularly enough to keep them in the contest, but with Marlborough scoring enough runs to keep them just ahead. 

As well as a great spell from surprise package Wilkins, there were also 2 wickets for Joe Veacock, 1 from skipper Adam Mitchell, and run outs from Turner and Matt Hunt.  

The start of Melksham’s response was a shaky one. First main-man Mitchell was caught for 8, then number 3, Lewie Simmons, was bowled for 9; leaving Melksham in a spot of bother on 25-2.  Fortunately for Melksham, number 4 batsman Russ Collins was on hand to rescue his side from their early peril. He smashed his way to quickfire 55, helping Melksham reach 98-3 before being bowled in the 18th over. Opener Turner was meanwhile holding the innings together nicely, having complied a steady 22 up to this point.  

Joe Veacock was next to the crease and was able to continue the good work of Collins. Thanks to his and Turner’s efforts, Melksham were firmly in the ascendency by the 25th over, having reached a score of 140-3. The inclement weather was also now playing into Melksham’s favour, in the end reducing the length of the innings by 9 overs and subsequently lowering the required target to 179.  

Although the later stages of the run-chase weren’t without scares for the visitors, with Veacock (32), Turner (59), and Chay Forester (5) all late casualties, in the end Melksham claimed a deserved victory, with Brad Wilkins (4*) and Matt Hunt (1*) seeing the team over the line.

Saturday 11th June Sherston Magna CC 1st XI 185/9 (45) Melksham CC 1st XI 186/2 (37.2) Melksham won by 8 wickets

SIMON Turner and Adam Mitchell starred with the bat as Melksham strolled to a dominant 8-wicket victory at home against Sherston Magna. 

The visitors hit a respectable 185-9 in their innings, but that was to prove nowhere near enough to be competitive against a Melksham side in such fine nick with the bat. Turner led the way with his first 50 of the season, whilst skipper Mitchell continued his irresistible form with a 50 of his own to help his side make it four wins on the bounce. 

Having been put into field first after losing the toss, the hosts got off to a solid start with tight spells from openers Liam Merrett and Chris Long. Both however would sadly finish wicketless, with Long especially hard done by after conceding just 16 runs from his 9 overs. Sherston’s opening partnership would battle on until the 21st over, during which spinner Chris Singh finally made the long-awaited breakthrough to leave the away side 58-1.    

From this point onwards Sherston stepped up the run-rate considerably, reaching a score of 99-1 off 29. Fortunately, Singh was on hand to produce the heroics needed to get Melksham back on top of proceedings; first with the wicket of opener Ben Dickenson for 54, then with a run-out a few overs later.  

The captain was the next to pick up a wicket, but it was Joe Veacock who would go on to do the damage. Three quick wickets from him left Sherston reeling on 143-6, with another wicket from Mitchell soon after only adding to the visitors’ woes. Fortunately for them though number 8 batsman Andy Pegg was on hand to ensure they were not blown away completely. His innings of 45 not out ensured that Sherston were still in the match come the end of the innings, with Melksham left frustrated in their attempts to take the final wicket. 

Matt Hunt and Simon Turner were the batsmen to begin Melksham’s response, with both going out to the middle with a point to prove after a run of low scores. The pair were able to build a solid foundation for the home side with an opening partnership of 57 off 15 overs; although that would be as good as it got for Hunt, who was then trapped LBW next over for a score of 16. Turner on the other hand flourished from this point onwards. He smashed four consecutive 4s in the 18th over, helping to step up the momentum as Melksham looked to push on. 

With Mitchell now joining Turner at the crease, victory now looked inevitable. Regrettably, Turner was unable to see the job through, having been caught in the 27th over for 64, but in the grander scheme this mattered little. Mitchell and new batsman Veacock were untroubled in the closing stages of the innings, finishing the job in a professional manner to cap off a good day’s work for Melksham; Mitchell finishing 59 not out whilst Veacock ended the day with an unbeaten 26.    

MCC would like to thank LW Roofing for sponsoring the matchball for this game.