Melksham CC 1st XI met with mixed fortunes over the previous fortnight, enjoying a resounding win at home to Swindon 3s before suffering a frustrating defeat away to Potterne 3s the following week.
The victory over Swindon was set up by an impressive 1st innings’ batting display which saw Melksham knock up a total of 250-9. Opener Joe Veacock was the main protagonist; his knock of 90 set the tone for the rest of the innings, with stand-in skipper Chay Forester playing his part with a crucial knock of 45 along with healthy cameos from Gary Burns (21) and Nick Derbyshire (18).
Swindon’s reply did get off to a much-needed rapid start, but wickets from Rich Hemmings (1-26) and Liam Merrett (3-40) allowed Melksham to keep their noses in front. Spinner Chris Singh then took the game away from Swindon with an impressive spell of 5-28, restricting the visitors to a total of 171 and allowing his side to walk off the field having secured a fourth win on the bounce with a 79-run victory.
Unfortunately, the winning run couldn’t be continued, with a tail end capitulation condemning Melksham to a frustrating 36-run defeat at Potterne 3s.
The hosts posted a healthy total 214 in the first innings, although a slew of dropped catches meant that Melksham ideally should have restricted their opponents for far less. Skipper Adam Mitchell emerged with the best figures of 3-41, whilst seamers Chris Long and Leigh Rogers put in respectable efforts with figures of 2-23 and 2-26 respectively.
It was a mixed start to the run chase for Melksham, with Mitchell (3) and Russ Collins (7) both dismissed cheaply before the wicket of Dan Carpenter (26) left the visitors 79-3. The fourth wicket pairing of Chay Forester (76) and Paul Merrett (39) did however begin to shift the momentum in Melksham’s favour. Their partnership of 88 steered the away side to a healthy position of 167-3 off 34 overs; a seemingly solid base from which to kick on and clinch a fifth successive win.
Quite suddenly this proved not to be the case, with the rapid dismissals of both batsmen triggering a lower-order collapse which saw Melksham lose their remaining 7 wickets for just 11 runs, leading to a first defeat for the side since the opening day of the season.
It was also a disappointing fortnight for the club’s other sides, with both the 2nd XI and the 3rd XI suffering a cancellation and a defeat.
The 2nd XI’s clash with Corsham 4ths proved to be a particularly bitter affair, with the side not making a healthy first innings display with the bat count as they went under by 5-wickets. Tony Trotman was the star of the show for Melksham with his maiden century for the club, scoring 108 to help his side, along with knocks from John Wiltshire (36) and Jonny House (25), reach a chunky total of 247-6.
A disappointing 2nd innings bowling display saw the good work with the bat undone however, with Corsham completing an impressive run-chase with four overs to spare to continue a lukewarm start to the season for the 2s.
It was a familiar story for the 3s the following week, with a modest total proving too hard to defend during their defeat away to Devizes 3s. The 1st innings saw Melksham only able to muster a score of 144, a score which Devizes were able to knock off in just half the allotted overs for the loss of five wickets.
