Travelling to Marlborough always presents a cricketing challenge and the second eleven headed off to Wiltshire at 11:30am after a confident win over Taunton at the weekend. Fuelled by a roast dinner at 11am, the sun was shining and spirits high as we took the long road to Marlborough, eager to build on the previous fixture’s success.

Arriving nice and early, the boys set about warming up, intent on batting having looked at the extremely flat and hard pitch. This was definitely a day to bat and after losing the toss, inevitably, Miles BH informed his team that they were fielding!

Ollie LB started proceedings and was his miserly self, not allowing the batters to get the start they wanted, and this resulted in some early pressure resulting in a run out. It looked like a marginal call from the scorer’s box, but it was an ideal start. As a batter, there’s no worse way to get out and on a sunny afternoon, on a cracking wicket, the Marlborough batter was suitably annoyed.

However, perhaps fortified by this error, the Marlborough batters got stuck in and built a solid partnership to steady the ship. Both players had first XI experience and this showed in the way they built the partnership and started to get on top of the Sherborne attack not allowing the bowlers to settle into a rhythm. Oz P got a few to get past the bat and Harry S bowled aggressively but without reward, both a little guilty of bowling too short on a hard but even paced wicket.

Will W bowled with good pace and was also unlucky not to come away with a wicket or two but his control was just what was needed as the Marlborough batters neared the 100 partnership. Fortunately, this was broken with the introduction of spin. Hugo B’s left arm orthodox prized out the experienced opener for 41, Harry S taking the catch off a full toss before he then bowled the Marlborough number 5 as the Marlborough batter tried to launch him onto the lower pitches.

With Al P setting up his twin Oz with an easy catch, the dangerous partnerships were broken and a steady stream of wickets followed. Marlborough very generously contributed to their downfalls by missing straight balls or launching the ball upward, without clearing the fielders. Jasper R took a superb skier, running backwards and then Ollie LB mopped up the middle order with a caught and bowled claiming 3-18 with Hugo B 2-32 and Al P 2-32. Two daft run outs also helped Sherborne to wrap up the Marlborough innings with a sub-par 159 all out.

After a delicious but snooze inducing tea, the boys were soon back and starting to chase down the 159 required. Miles BH and Jamie G fended off the express Marlborough opener, at the expense of Jamie’s bat, damaged by a nasty bouncer, and soon settled into a rhythm or cutting the Marlborough bowling apart, batting watchfully, yet pouncing on anything loose. Marlborough continued their charitable contributions by spilling several catches and letting the Sherborne batters off the hook, on more than one occasion, with chances that were recorded for posterity on YouTube!

Reaching 89, Jamie G’s luck ran out and he departed for a tidy 44, caught behind off one that scuttled through low. Miles BH continued his merry way and began to dominate the Marlborough bowling with aggressive stroke play. Jasper R miscued one and then Jamie D repeated his name sake’s earlier dismissal buy edging to the keeper on 13. This minor wobble was stabilised by Ali RT who got Sherborne across the line with a run-a-ball 19 not out, with Arthur D not out 2, to win by 6 wickets with 7 overs left.

This was an excellent win for the team, and they are growing in confidence and play cricket the right way. The ground fielding was much better this time out and, despite a couple of missed chances, they took the opportunities to take wickets much better this time around. Bryanston are the next opponents next Thursday, and the team should go into the fixture confident in their ability to chase down awkward scores and impose themselves on the opposition.