Double joy for bassett squad (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Double joy for bassett squad

DIVISION Two champions Wootton Bassett completed a dream season in the Swindon Indoor Cricket League when they added the Cloverleaf KO Cup.

In a keenly-contested final, they beat Division One Civil Service by 21 runs.

Batting first, Bassett made a good start through Clive Chattell (38 not out) and Rod Bartlett (27 not out) and, after four overs, were well placed at 50-0.

Although they were unable to accelerate decisively, 20 runs from their 10th and final over saw them post a challenging 120-3.

In reply, Civil Service made a similarly bright start and, after three overs, were 40-2, helped by some nervous wides.

However, the match swung decisively in Bassett's favour in the fifth over, bowled by Ian Lancaster.

He took two important wickets in two balls, from which Civil Service were unable to recover as they subsided to 100 all out.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Civil Service registered a good victory over fancied Shrivenham by four wickets, Mike Giddings being the star with 28 not out.

Bassett had been untroubled in defeating Asians by five wickets, with Lancaster taking 3-7 and Bartlett again to the fore with 27 not out.

The outstanding business in the league saw Swindon lose to Asians 2nd by 53 runs.

But they protected their superior run rate in the process and pipped Asians for the Division One title.