On a very hot day Collingbourne CC travelled to Swindon to play Moredon Royal Oak CC in a Wiltshire Division 2 fixture.

On a much-improved wicket from last year Collingbourne won the toss and elected to bowl first with Ollie Scott (0-16) and Tom Pike (1-30) opening the bowling.

The Moredon openers started cautiously but sensibly and put on an opening stand of 40 within 13 overs.

However a bowling change to T.C (2-6), playing in his first game for Collingbourne, led to the wicket of opener T.Hanif with his 4th ball, a deceptive bouncer that took everyone by surprise.

T.C took another wicket in his second over thanks to a catch behind by wicketkeeper Malcolm Chandler.

Both Tom Grant (2-14) and Ben Doherty (2-40) followed the opening stints with good tight bowling from either end and with the help of Tom Basford (0-25) reduced Moredons total to 139-7 with the ex-captain and wicket-keeper B.Seller offering the main resistance with a hard earned 34.

In reply Collingbourne looked for a similar start with caution being the key. Unfortunately opener Graham Chandler (3) was out caught behind to C.Hanif (1-32) in the 5th over, and Tom Basford (7) after some good early shots followed bowled S.McNeal (1-22).

Moredon bowled very well and kept the pressure on, but James Grant and Malcolm Chanlder batted well to keep the score ticking along until Grant (34) was caught off captain P.Morton.

Collingbourne captain Owen Sheppard came to the crease and shared a 51 partnership with M.Chandler before he was dismissed with a very wiley delivery from I.Morton for 37.

This left T.Pike (19*) to finish off the game with M.Chandler, who hit the winning runs with a cracking four over mid-off.

Owen Sheppard