Top-class Melksham romp to victory

Saturday 21st May. Melksham 261-9 Winsley 2s 133 all out . Melksham won by 133 runs.

THE 1st XI produced a top-class performance at the weekend, with Adam Mitchell notching his first ton for the club, to lead his side to a comfortable 133-run win away at Winsley.  

The skipper stole the show with a score of exactly 100, although Russ Collins also hit a classy 97. Their efforts helped Melksham reach a colossal total of 261-9, a total that was easily defended, thanks to a solid effort with the ball and in the field.    

Batting first after losing the toss, Melksham suffered an early setback when Chay Forester was caught for just 2 in the second over. An aggressive Mitchell was not to be deterred though; he took full advantage of some wayward Winsley bowling, hitting regular boundaries in an explosive opening period, which saw him reach his fifty in just 41 balls. The other end was proving to be a different story for Melksham though. Simon Turner was caught for 12, unable to kick on after a solid start, then a lapse in awareness from Joe Veacock saw him stumped first ball to leave his side 73-3.  

Having shouldered most of the run-scoring burden until this point, Mitchell was now able to relax somewhat, thanks to the arrival of Collins at the crease. Melksham’s number 5 bludgeoning his way to a quickfire 50 in a match-defining 4th wicket stand of 132. The partnership was only broken when Mitchell was caught in the 34th over, immediately after chalking up his century, leaving his side 205-4 off 34 overs. 

Collins was bowled agonisingly short of his century, whilst Lewie Simmons emerged the most effective of the tail-end batsmen, with a cameo of 15 not out. The visitors reached 261-9, a total which put them firmly in control.  

This supremacy was only tightened as opening bowlers, Rich Hemmings and Dan King, were excellent during their first few overs, with the latter being rewarded with the opening wicket during the 7th over. Winsley never gained any sufficient momentum, with a direct hit run-out from Simmons and further wicket from King (who finished 2-18 off 9) only compounding their problems.  

He and Hemmings were replaced in the attack by Liam Merrett and Mark Mullis, with the two combining well to eventually wear Winsley down. Merrett finished 2-39 and Mullis ended his spell 2-35, to leave Melksham on the cusp of victory, with Winsley still miles behind the target. Soon after, the long inevitable victory was signed and sealed, thanks to a late wicket apiece from Mitchell and Simmons.

Wanborough 163 all out. Melksham 165-7 Melksham win by 3 wickets.

CHRIS Singh and Chay Forester emerged the heroes as Melksham got their season up and running at the second time of asking, securing a 3-wicket win away to Wanborough.  

The visitors restricted their opponents to a modest score of 163 during, with Singh the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-36 off 9. Forester then stepped up with the bat, scoring 69 to help Melksham get over the line despite a late wobble.  

Skipper Adam Mitchell won the toss and elected to field , a decision that was soon vindicated by two early wickets coming courtesy of openers Rich Hemmings (1-12) and Liam Merrett (1-32). Wanborough then reached a score of 44-2 by the 15th over.  

Mitchell then turned to Singh and Russ Collins and both struck early in their spells to leave Wanborough 50-4. Singh then cashed in with a further three wickets, and thanks to him and Collins (2-13) the hosts were now in deep trouble on 99-8 off 31.  

Mitchell and Mark Mullis claimed the final two wickets, but by then Wanborough had reached 163, a score which at least kept them in the contest.  

The beginning of the Melksham innings proved to be a frantic one. Boundaries were being struck regularly, but Melksham also suffered the major blows of losing key men Mitchell (12) and Collins (16), leaving them 44-2 off 7 overs. Fortunately, Forester and the incoming Joe Veacock were able to settle the game down, taking a more cautious approach.   

The pair’s hard graft began to pay off. Veacock would eventually depart for a hard fought 29, but thanks to an 81-run partnership between him and Forester, it looked like the game was Melksham’s to lose, with the scoreboard now reading 125-3 off 27. 

Although Wanborough took late wickets including those of Simon Turner (4) and Matt Hunt (9), Melksham reached their target with three wickets to spare. 

Unfortunately though, Forester was unable to see his side home personally, having been caught with his side just five runs shy of their target.