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Cricket: Goatacre kick started their season with two impressive wins over the weekend.

On Saturday they travelled to Marlborough, where they had been soundly beaten on the final day of last season, and won comfortably by 6 wickets. Sunday saw them gain revenge with a 35 run victory over Stalbridge, their conquerors from last seasons National Village Cup.

Captain Sam Parish began the weekend in familiar fashion by losing the toss at Marlborough, but was pleasantly surprised to be asked to bowl on a green wicket in humid conditions. Whilst the opening attack of Gibbens and Wilkins failed to take the early wickets that had been hoped for they did keep the run rate low. However, the change bowling of Kevin Iles and Heer had an immediate impact with Heer taking a wicket in each of his first 3 overs, and Iles regularly beating the bat. At 39-3 it looked like Goatacre could run through the Marlborough batsmen, but Head and Norris battled hard to get the hosts into the 60's before Iles bowled Head, and immediately afterwards removed Norris to an outstanding catch at slip from nephew Adam Iles. From 67 - 5 wickets then fell steadily to the veteran pair, Iles finishing with 4 - 38 and Heer with 4 -19. 13 year old Bradley Dawson was then introduced into the attack and took the final 2 wickets, crucially with the last wicket falling on 119 - gaining the visitors an extra 2 points.

The Goatacre response started slowly, with the run rate below 2 an over for long periods, and Marlborough stayed in the game by removing opener Haines with the score on 13 and Horton with the score on 36. Despite losing Jif Wilkins and Kevin Iles with 40 still required Lines (61 not out) remained throughout the innings, and when Ed Wilkins joined him the result never looked in doubt. Goatacre went on to win by 6 wickets, with 8 overs to spare, and in the process gained their first win of the season and 20 points.

On Sunday Stalbridge, the Dorset and Wilts Group winners from last year travelled to Goatacre with a healthy crowd and glorious weather welcoming them. Captain Parish won the toss for the first time this season, and elected to bat. Lines continued his good form from the previous day, and was well supported by Dan Horton - the pair racing to a partnership of 74 in just 13 overs. Horton along with new partner Jif Wilkins then put together a century stand to take the score to 185 before Horton was dismissed for an impressive 73. At this stage, with over 12 over left it looked like Goatacre would push on to a score of 260 or 270, but Stalbridge fought back and took wickets at regular intervals. A little cameo of 23 in 15 balls by Sam Parish boosted the score to 243-7 at the end of their 40 overs.

Stalbridge began to attack from the start, but Adam Iles managed to make the crucial early breakthrough in his first over, and then followed it up with another wicket with the score on 30. Miles and the impressive Burfitt then started to bring Stalbridge back into the game, taking the score to 69 in the 15th over before Parish took a sharp catch off the bowling of Heer to remove Miles. In the following over Kevin Iles removed Wilson, but the dangerous Burfitt still remained. With the asking rate increasing and the pressure mounting Burfitt was eventually dismissed, caught at long off from the bowling of K Iles, for a well made 56. Goatacre may have thought at this point that the game was over, but captain Chant and his partner Dike had other ideas. Thy nudged the ball around, ran well and punished the bad ball to keep the required rate below 10 an over, and keep them in with a chance. However, the introduction of young Dawson put the game beyond doubt. With his third ball he took a superb caught and bowled to dismiss hant and then followed that up with 2 further wickets, leaving the returning Adam Iles to finish the game off by bowling the last man with 10 balls left and 35 still required.

Next week Goatacre travel to Chippenham in the league and host Potterne in the next round of the National Village Knockout Cup.

9:28am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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