Got the game on....came second...

The third eleven succumbed to their first defeat of the season away to Chippenham 3rds losing by 109 runs.

After winning their first game against Royal Wootton Bassett 2s, the 3s went to Chippenham looking to build on early season form, however, a poor fielding display and a knock of a 103 by their number 3 was enough to halt any momentum.

In the only game to survive the weather this weekend for our sides, skipper Ashley Baden opted to bowl first with conditions playing a part in his decision despite the game being played on an artificial wicket. To begin with, his choice seemed vindicated with some tight bowling from Lee Pearson and George Tweedale, the latter picking up an early wicket to dismiss one of the Chippenham openers who pulled a length ball straight to Daniyel Rafiq at mid-wicket. Soon after Sam Wiles removed the other opener, who was caught after miss timing a drive straight to mid-off leaving the hosts 35-2 in the 12th over.

But the early pressure was relinquished with a mixture of wayward bowling, sloppy fielding, and Chippenham’s batsmen brutality in a third-wicket stand of 128, only broken by a superb caught and bowled by Andy Lea bouncing back from going for 25 in his first over. But the frustration continued soon after, as their number 3, chancing his arm, connected with some lusty blows, as well as edging numerous balls agonisingly wide of Swindon fielders on his way to 103 off 93 deliveries. When he did eventually find Adam Davidson, whilst on 70, he put down the regulation chance in not one of our finest fielding displays as a team. Despite George picking up a couple of scalps towards the backend, finishing with respectable figures of 3-40 off his nine overs, and ably helped by Jamie Baden bowling relatively tidily, Chippenham reached a daunting 287-5 from their 45 overs.

The reply got off to a breezy start with the skipper helping himself to a couple of nice boundaries and a couple of quick singles, one of which left him sprawling on the floor thanks to Paul Davies forgetting who he was batting with. However, both were removed by the host's opening bowler shortly after. The skipper edging one behind despite thinking he missed it, the only man on the field who did, and Paul chopping onto his stumps leaving us 22-2 in the 5th over. Jamie Baden and Arun Leyhal came together ticking the innings along, despite some frustrations in not being able to put the short wide balls away, leading to the host having two gullies and a backward point with Jamie finding them consistently much to his frustration. They had steered the score to 65 in the 20th over when Jamie, unfortunately, struggled in making a third run after injuring his foot the over before being run out for 21 off 54.

After this the innings never really got the momentum required losing wickets consistently with Jacob Hobson, also scoring 21, providing the only real support for Arun on his way to a well compiled 77 off 108 deliveries, the best shot being a huge straight six even possibly the shot of the day.

In the end, too many runs were given away to ever be competitive with the innings ending on 177-9, the only solace being the extra batting point being picked up in the final over. After the game, the skipper insisted Wednesday’s training session will include some much-needed fielding drills in preparation for the visit of Devizes 2s at Lydiard on Saturday.

Report by Lee Pearson. We are always happy to publish reports from across any of our teams, from U9s to seniors. Please just drop a match report (no matter how short) to swindoncricketclub@gmail.com