Goatacre 229-9, Devizes 169ao (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Goatacre 229-9, Devizes 169ao

Glos/Wilts One: Jif Wilkins experienced a sweet and sour match when his game was ended with a dislocated finger shortly after hitting a maiden first team century for Goatacre.

Wilkins 102 not out helped the home side to a 60-run win over rivals Devizes on Saturday.

Wilkins started his innings steadily before doing his best Kevin Pietersen impression.

Starting the penultimate over on 75 he hit Devizes captain Andy Hodder for two consecutive sixes and then did the same to Owen Burgess in the last over to complete a superb century.

Wilkins said he was just happy to help his side to their fifth win in six games.

He said: " I was pleased with my performance. We were struggling a little bit and it was nice to bat well.

"I suppose I was almost in the zone and it was very satisfying to do so well against another local side."

Wilkins dislocated his finger when bowling after the ball was fired back at him.

But the centurion said he was hopeful to play against third-placed Swindon on Saturday.

"My finger is feeling better all the time but we will have to wait and see.

"It's a big game with us in second and them in third and these are the sorts of games you want to play in."

The home side started strongly when they were put into bat as Steve Lines and Steve Gee took Goatacre to 76 in 20 overs.

But the introduction of Devizes bowlers Mark Banham and Alex Muse began to slow the run rate and Gee was the first to go when he was caught at midwicket off Banham for 44.

Jif Wilkins joined Lines and started with three boundaries before Muse bowled the opener for 20.

Toby Horton then suffered the same fate and when Banham trapped Kevin Iles and Ed Wilkins LBW in consecutive balls Goatacre were beginning to struggle on 140-5.

Wilkins was still scoring well at the other end but Adam Iles fell LBW to Muse and Matt Wilkins was caught behind off Banham.

As the two bowlers spells came to an end Goatacre were left on 166-7 after 42 overs with Banham finishing on 4-62 from his 15 overs and Muse 3-40 from his.

After Devizes captain Hodder had taken the wicket of contemporary Sam Parish, Owen Burgess bowled James McNulty and it looked like Goatacre would struggle to bat out their 50 overs.

But Wilkins then began to take apart the bowling with his sixes and support from Rahn Heer.

Wilkins then took his turn with the ball and he and Adam Iles both bowled tight opening spells to ensure Devizes were off to a slow start.

Wilkins struck first when he had Richard Wright LBW and then Iles' replacement Heer quickly removed Mark Colyer, Ben Watson and Joe Hickey to leave Goatacre in control.

McNulty replaced Wilkins after he injured his finger and took two wickets in his first over.

First Jon Couch was well caught by Horton at mid-on and then next ball Muse was clean bowled to leave the visitors on 44-6.

Guy Tadman and Banham offered some resistance with a stand of 80 but when Kevin Iles bowled Tadman for 59 the end was in sight.

The win was completed when Adam Iles removed Hodder and McNulty returned to pick up the last two wickets as Devizes were bowled out for 169.

Devizes now play bottom-placed Redmarely on Saturday needing a win to kick-start their season.

Goatacre face Swindon without Kevin Iles but Dan Horton and Pete Turner are likely to return.