WILTSHIRE cricket lost their first NCCA Trophy fixture of the season against Buckinghamshire by six wickets on Saturday.
Despite a classy 68 runs from Wiltshire’s man of the match, Jake Goodwin, the visitors were never likely to win the game following a poor batting display.
After losing the toss and being inserted into bat, former Swindon CC batter Goodwin maintained his good form with the bat as Wiltshire aimed to set a defendable target.
However, the Wiltshire batsmen contrived to give Buckinghamshire catching practice with nine of the 10 wickets falling to catches. Ed Young, 22, stayed with Goodwin to provide support in the best partnership of the innings - 60 runs - until he fell to a splendid catch on the boundary by Alexei Korvezee.
The next best partnership saw Josh Croom, 22, and Joe King, 15 not out, add 38 runs for the 10th wicket.
Edward Bragg was the pick of the Buckinghamshire bowlers with 4-29, with Cameron Parsons 3-44, Stephen Croft 2-35, and AJ Woodland 1-25 completing the task.
On a pitch with a reputation for high scores, former long-time Worcestershire player Kervezee showed his pedigree with a blistering assault on the Wiltshire bowlers, hitting 54 runs from just 22 balls until the ex-Netherlands international was finally caught in the deep by King off Young’s bowling.
Chris Marlow fell almost immediately to a fine direct hit run out by Young. Sadly for Wiltshire, there was to be little furter success for the fielding team as Conrad Louth (44) and Edward Bragg (58) continued the assault and Buckinghamshire raced towards their target.
The pair perished just before achieving their goal with Bragg caught in the deep off King’s bowling and Louth falling LBW to Young. It was left to Richardson (3no) and Payne (9no) to finish the task with a massive 122 balls to spare.
Wiltshire will hope for better next time out when they return home to Warminster to take on Staffordshire.
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