‘Up and down’ fortnight for town’s cricket club

Melksham Cricket Club experienced an up-and-down fortnight, one which began with a crushing 7-wicket win at home to Combe Down before ending with a disappointing 104-run defeat during their trip to Division 3 league leaders Royal Wootton Bassett 2s.  

It was a devastating 1st innings bowling display that set up the triumph over Combe Down, with Melksham’s seam quartet of Rich Hemmings (2-22), Ben Brown (3-24), Liam Merrett (3-5) and Leigh Rogers (2-5) blowing the visitors away for the meagre total of 58.

The run-chase did run into some early complications thanks to a trio of early wickets, but in the end, Chay Forester (26*) and Russ Collins (13*) were able to make sure that the bowlers’ earlier good work was justly rewarded with victory; ensuring that Melksham remained within sight of pace setters Wootton Bassett ahead of their trip the following week.

Unfortunately said trip did not go to plan, with Bassett racking up a monumental first innings total of 286-9 to leave Melksham with a huge mountain to climb during the 2nd innings. Any hopes of a famous run-chase were quickly dashed by the loss of three early wickets for just two runs, although Forester and Collins, reunited at the crease after the previous week, were able to restore some measure of order by guiding their side to a score of 81 without any further loss. Sadly, both Forester (48) and Collins (30) were both dismissed soon after, effectively ending Melksham’s hopes of chasing down their massive target.

From then on, all that was left to gain was some manner of respectability, which thankfully was achieved thanks to a late unbeaten 59 from Tom Wallis. This, helped by a watchful 13 not out from Jonny House, meant that Melksham would go onto finish just over 100 runs shy of their target on 182-7.

Wallis had also racked up the runs during his appearance for the 2nd XI the previous week, scoring 70 not out during a 9-wicket victory away to Bathford. An efficient bowling performance, spearheaded by Tom Watling (3-19), Chris Singh (2-13) and Chris Long (2-19), saw Bathford bowled out for just 115, a total that Wallis, with the help of a useful 26 not out from Tony Trotman, was able to knock off with ease.

Unfortunately, the 2s fortunes mirrored that of the 1s, with their 2nd game of the fortnight ending in frustrating 3-wicket defeat at home to Calne 3s. A pitiful top order collapse left Melksham in the mud early doors on 16-5. It was only thanks to solid efforts from lower-order batsmen Chris Skilton (30), Andy Footner (24), Finley Burns (18) and Rich Bryant (10*) that Melksham were able to limp to a total worth defending, eventually finishing on 112.

The bowlers gave it a good shot in the 2nd innings by taking seven wickets, with Skilton leading the charge with figures of 3-30. In the end though Calne were able to hold their nerve and get over the line with three wickets to spare, condemning the 2s to a disappointingly mixed first half of the season, with much improvement needed if they are to push for the Division 8 promotion spots as the season progresses.