Cricket: Melksham clinch promotion on dramatic last day

MELKSHAM CC 1st XI have ended their season in triumph, securing promotion from Division 3 of the Wiltshire County Cricket League on a final dramatic day of the season.

Despite falling to a heavy defeat at the hands of champions Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd XI, it nonetheless proved to be a day of celebration for the club thanks to a shock collapse from promotion rivals White Horse in their game against Potterne 3s.

Melksham came into the day knowing that a win would all but guarantee a second place finish and a promotion into Division 2, with the prospect of winning the league also mathematically possible if they could register a comprehensive win against league leaders Bassett.

However, it quickly became apparent that this was unlikely, with the visitors giving a clear demonstration of why they were top of the league with a dominant first innings display with the bat. The Melksham bowlers toiled for little reward in an innings which saw them take just three wickets and Bassett pile on a massive total of 263.

The side’s prospects for promotion were beginning to look somewhat bleak at this point, especially with the news coming through that White Horse had restricted Potterne 3s to just 141-8, a target which on paper looked like easy pickings for a team that had only lost twice all season.

Melksham’s 2nd innings batting performance did little to alleviate fears that promotion was slipping from their grasp, with Ben Brown (73) the only batsman to get to grips with a pacey and clinical Bassett bowling attack. In the end the hosts never got close to threatening the target, finishing 137 all out with more than eight overs left in the innings. However in the meantime news was coming through that White Horse were unexpectedly struggling in their run-chase. Melksham spirits were lifted with the news of every fresh wicket from that game, culminating in relief and jubilation when it was confirmed that White Horse had been bowled out for just 95.

With their own below par performance now rendered irrelevant in the context of the league, it was celebrations long into the night for Melksham, who can now look forward to Division 2 cricket next season after securing a second consecutive promotion.

2nd team fall just short

Unfortunately, the 2nd XI were lacking similar luck during their final day push for promotion from Division 8 West. Despite running out as comfortable winners during their trip to Calne 3s, Allington 2s 10-wicket hammering of Devizes 3s meant that the former was able to pip Melksham to a second place finish, condemning Melksham’s second-string side to a second third place finish in a row, having missed out on promotion in circumstances eerily similar to those of last season.

The day began with Melksham putting in a fine display with the bat; Dan Carpenter (74), Ross Holbrook (69) and Tom Bew (51) all hammered impressive knocks as their side sailed to a commanding 1st innings total of 256-5. The news coming through from the game involving promotion rivals Allington proved to be dire though. They were able to skittle Devizes out for just 29, a total they were able easily knock off without losing a wicket.

As a result of the bonus points system Melksham would subsequently be required to bowl Calne out for less than 75 runs if they were to finish above Allington in the table. Although the bowlers gave everything they could to try and make this a reality, in the end Calne’s batting line-up had enough about them to avoid such a drubbing. They battled on in the second innings to reach a score of 165 all out to leave the 2s lamenting their luck yet again.

The 3rd XI also chalked up a win in the last match of their debut season, beating Corsham 4th XI by 125 runs to cap off what has been a good finish to the season. Chris Bogg (91*) and Steve Burns (49*) powered Melksham to a score of 246-6 in the 1st innings, with the bowlers led by Brendon Knight (3-23) then polishing Corsham off for just 121 to make it four wins from the last six games of the campaign.