Wiltshire County CC move one step closer to Lord's (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Wiltshire County CC move one step closer to Lord's

WILTSHIRE County Cricket Club won an exciting quarter-final of the Minor Counties Knockout Trophy at Westbury on Sunday when they beat Wales Minor Counties by two wickets with the winning runs coming off the final ball of the match.

Wales, who won the toss and chose to bat, were soon into their stride. With a quick outfield and good pitch, this was always likely to be a high scoring game.

A series of good partnerships took their score to 286 all out in the 50th over. For Wales, Evans scored 69, Rees 49, Bragg 37 and James 34.

The most successful of the Wiltshire bowlers were James Hayward 4-57 and James Golding 2-37.

In reply, Wiltshire were looking for a good start and they had an opening partnership of 96 between the two young left-handers, Damian Shirazi who made 40 and Eddie Abel who scored his maiden senior half-century for the county with 58.

Mike Coles then hit a quick- fire 53 and there followed James Golding with 23 and James Hibberd 27. When James Hay-ward joined Richard Bedbrook, 30 runs were needed off 21 balls.

Hayward scored an aggressive 19 and, when he hit the first ball of the last over for four, the scores were level.

And Wiltshire would win, providing they did not lose three wickets in the last five balls.

While Hayward perished going for glory off the very next ball, Russell Rowe, who had held himself back, came to the wicket.

After assuring Wiltshire of victory, he hit the last ball to the boundary. Richard Bedbrook remained 25 not out.

Wiltshire will now play Cornwall in the semi-final at Corsham on Sunday, July 24, with the winners going on to the final at Lord's.

This is Wiltshire's second successive semi-final having lost to Northumberland at the same stage last year.

Wiltshire have been forced to make several changes to their side for the Championship match versus Cheshire at Trowbridge on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, July 17, 18 and 19th.