Wiltshire Youth League (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Wiltshire Youth League

U13 Red: In an expected close encounter between the top two teams, Swindon were asked to bat first at Wootton Bassett and after losing an early wicket recovered well with a second wicket stand of 60 between Tom Law and Jonathan Sore.

The departure of Law for a powerful 34 with the team score on 77 signalled the start of a big Swindon collapse. In the next five overs Swindon lost a further four wickets for the addition of no runs as Ravi Samant took 4-11 in seven overs.

Swindon's slow recovery was led by Sore who played a defiant innings before his dismissal for 31 in the 32nd over, enabling a respectable score of 134 to be reached.

Other wicket takers for Bassett were Joe Paish (2-25) and Alistair Wood (2-19). In reply, Bassett started well, led by a second wicket partnership between Sam Burdock (19) and Taylor Aitken (29).

After their dismissal the run rate slowed but the target was always in reach until they lost three quick wickets. In the end Bassett closed on 111-9 with Greg Davies ending on 18 not out, enabling Bassett to hold on for a losing draw. Steve Page was the leading wicket taker for Swindon with figures of 3-6 off his seven overs.

Malmesbury's Robert Gillespie (40) held the innings together in their match against Biddestone. After the loss of three wickets for 27, Gillespie and James Newman (14) added 60 for the fourth wicket.

Once that stand was broken, the Biddestone bowlers ran through the rest of the home team's batting and Malmesbury were dismissed for 105.

Robert Poole had the impressive figures off 4-8 off seven overs for Biddestone and James Howells also took 4-23. In reply, Biddestone were dismissed for just 40 in 11 overs to leave Malmesbury winners by 65 runs. Gillespie bowled four batsmen in three overs to finish with 4-11 and he was well supported by James Pickering (2-5) and Anthony Cole (2-19).

South Wilts' total of 144-5 at home to Chippenham was built around a solid innings of 62 from Owain Phillips. Ryan Merryweather took 3-17 for Chippenham.

Accurate bowling from the home side then restricted Chippenham to 118-8 as South Wilts won by 26 runs. Uzi Qureshi scored 36 for Chippenham and Charlie Smith took 3-33 for South Wilts.