Sat. 26th Sept. WCCL Div. 46. Melksham CC 203/5 (45). Beckington 2nd XI 206/1 (26.5) Beckington won by 9 wickets
Melksham Cricket Club finished their season on a disappointing note with a heavy defeat at home to Beckington, with a reasonable 1st innings display, with the bat proving no remedy to a brutal onslaught from Beckington in the 2nd innings.
With the home side winning the toss and opting to bat first, it looked set to be a short and bitter afternoon when Melksham’s top order was demolished to leave the score on 28-4. With their side seemingly on the brink, it was up to Matt Hunt and Joe Veacock to guide their side away from trouble; and gradually they were able to do this. By the 25th over, the hosts could breathe slightly easier with the score on 96-4 and the incumbent batsman looking well set after battling against both the Beckington bowlers and their own bodies, with both batsmen appearing to struggle with injuries whilst at the crease.
Veacock eventually departed for a total of 26; with the score on 109-5. This brought overseas superstar Jack Footner to the crease who, after a steady beginning, exhibited some impressive stroke play to increase the run-rate going into the final third of the innings. Both he and Hunt finished the innings strongly, with Footner falling just shy of fifty on 47 not out, whilst Hunt narrowly missed out on what would have a brilliant century, finishing 94 not out. Melksham finished the innings on a total of 203-5 off 45 overs, a brilliant recovery given their earlier predicament.
Beckington wasted no time in racking up the runs as they began their response, but Melksham appeared to have gained an early foothold in the game when batting-hero Footner then struck with the ball in the 7th over to leave the score at 27-1. A few relatively quiet overs followed as Footner and fellow opener Liam Merrett finished their first spells in solid fashion.
But soon all hell would break loose when Beckington’s number 3 batsman Charlie Rustell launched into a brutal blitz upon Melksham’s slower bowlers, smashing sixes with stunning regularity to leave the fielding side stunned. All the Melksham fielders positioned on the boundary could do was watch the ball go over their heads as Rustell smashed ball after ball well over the rope to suddenly leave Melksham on the brink of a humiliating defeat. The swift end to the contest came in the 27th over when Rustell ended the contest on 127 not out, with his partner Billy Rustell also playing his part with 71 not out.
Melksham 2s also ended their season on a downbeat note, suffering an 82-run defeat on the road to Marlborough 3s. Andy Footner was the star with the ball once more, posting impressive figures of 4-14 off 9 overs; but Marlborough nevertheless were able to post a strong total of 191-7 in the first innings. Melksham struggled in response, with only Tom Watling (40) posting a significant score as the visitors ended finishing well short.
