After a weeks break due to a team pulling out of the league, the Swindon CC 2nd XI entertained undefeated Corsham CC 2nd XI at the County Ground on a hot and humid afternoon. Captain Harris started the day well, by winning the toss and asking the opposition to take the field in the blistering heat.

Corsham opted to open with spin from one end, with Chaplin going for just five runs in his first six overs. At the other end Swindon opener Sean Parker punished some wayward bowling to take Swindon to 47-0. Parker then fell to Crampton (3-34) for 32. Corsham continued to keep pace off the ball, with Crampton also picking up Danny Baker and Paul Davies (35). Swindon continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, but with opener Paginton anchoring the innings (50) and some late strikes by McNeil (19no) and O’Shea (11no) they reached 212 for 7 from their 45 overs.

Corshams reply got off to a bad start, with Abbott falling to Husband first ball of the innings. Swindon bowled well with the new ball, also removing opener Unwin for 13 and Myatt for two. Corsham then rebuilt, and looked to be getting ahead of the game (and in the process causing some heat related outbursts between angry Swindon fielders!) when young spinner Connor O’Shea took control of the game with a spell of 9-1-31-3. Corsham still had the potential to win the game though, with number three Davis playing excellently. When McNeil (1-38) and Husband returned to the attack Davis felt he needed to get himself on strike and was well run out by keeper Baker for 97. Husband (4-32) then finished a fine days bowling by picking up two tail end wickets, completing a win by 35 runs.

MOTM – Shared between O’Shea and the patient Paginton
Teas – 9/10 – excellent choice, slow cooked gammon a winner, just too hot to eat it all!