Corsham v Downend (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Corsham v Downend

RAIN had put paid to Corsham's cricket for the previous two weekends but they did manage to kick-start their season with a win against Downend at Station Road on Saturday.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat.

They made a reasonable start with openers Jackson and Gould putting on 34 before Roger Sillence took Jackson's wicket with the opener on 12.

Gould battled on and lost another partner before his own wicket fell when he was bowled LBW by Richard Foley for 39.

Foley took the wicket of Ian McEwan before another run was added to the board and Downend found themselves 68-4.

They rallied with Binnie and Patel at the crease and put on 40 runs before Binnie was run out on 25.

Patel battled on and top scored with 41 before being caught by Steve Copland off the bowling of Sillence.

At that point Downend were on 148-9 and they managed to reach 168 before Azhar was run out to complete their innings after 50.2 overs.

Sillence was the pick of the Corsham bowlers taking four wickets from his 15 overs. He conceded 55 runs but bowled four maidens.

Corsham had a nightmare start to their batting as openers Dwain Winter and Nick Beedell were both sent back to the pavilion without recording a run.

Winter was caught by Thomas off the bowling of Jackson and Beedell was also caught by Thomas this time off Azhar's bowling.

At this stage Corsham were 2-2 but Foley and Sillence came to the crease and looked to steady the ship.

They took the total to 45 when Sillence fell to McEwan having made 31 runs.

Foley battled on and was ably supported by Steve Copland. The pair reached 95 before Foley was bowled by McEwan for 35.

Copland went soon after having made a solid 34 and Neil Shardlow was then run-out on five.

Corsham still had work to do on 120-6 but Peter Dennett and Andrew Davis started to get the runs ticking over again.

Davis made 11 before being bowled LBW and Dennett chalked up 31 before also being removed by LBW as Corsham reached 158-8.

Needing only another 11 runs Craig Chaplin and Toby Sharpe kept their cool to see their side over the line.

Chaplin was not out on three and Sharpe not out for 13 and Corsham claimed the victory finishing on 171-8.