An upturn in fortunes for Shapwick

Ashcott and Shapwick 159-5 beat Warminster 158 all out by five wickets

Ashcott and Shapwick made their final trip to Wiltshire looking to end a two-match losing sequence which had seen them slip into the relegation zone in Premier Two.

However, in this incredibly tight division, Shapwick had actually won and lost the same number of games as Warminster, despite the hosts sitting pretty in second place in the league, so the visitors knew a win could mean all change.

Shapwick skipper Ben Rudge lost the toss and was invited to field first. Unlike at home, Shapwick were not caught cold by the pyrotechnics of home openers Adams and Selmes, for whom it was boundary or out every ball, and Warminster were soon 34-2 courtesy of James Hayman (3-39).

Warminster captain Clarke also batted positively for his 30, before he was well caught in the deep by Steve Tinnion off the bowling of Nayan Karmarkar (2-34).

After this positive start, Warminster went on the ultra-defensive against Karmarkar’s canny swing and Wayne Spencer’s (2-17) probing off-breaks. But even this was not enough to stop further wickets falling and Warminster found themselves struggling badly at 78-6 once overseas all-rounder Medhurst was trapped in front by a daisy-cutter from Spencer.

But this brought David Bateman to the wicket at number eight, the experienced wicketkeeper who had almost snatched an unlikely victory for Warminster in the first meeting between the two sides earlier in the year, and once again he looked his side’s best player, striking a fluent 38.

However, any hopes of a serious resurgence were ended when Tom Barr claimed 2-14 in a short spell and it was left to captain Rudge (1-36) and Hayman to clean up the tail to leave Warminster with an under-par 158 all out.

Shapwick started their chase knowing patience was a virtue, as they had 55 overs in which to fashion their chase thanks to Warminster’s inability to bat their overs, but openers Tinnion (20) and Spencer (12) looked supreme against the express pace of Medhurst (2-36) and the accuracy of John Powell (1-25), taking the score to 32 off five overs.

However, as is often the case, Shapwick were not to have an easy ride of things. Spencer was looking at ease when he was surprisingly given out lbw, despite the sound of leather on willow resonating around the ground.

Tinnion then edged to slip in the next over and, when the top scorer for the last two weeks Edmunds was bowled round his legs for a duck, Shapwick were suddenly 47-3.

Karmarkar steadied things briefly with 18, but when he was dismissed with the score on 73, nerves were definitely jangling. Luckily, the Rudge brothers Will and Ben were not in any mood for losing today, and they batted with great concentration to move the score along, with Will Rudge punishing the wayward bowling of Adams.

There was one final twist when Will Rudge was controversially adjudged run out, with opinions among the various spectators ranging from “well in” to “well out”, but where one Rudge departed, another appeared in his place, and Dan Rudge belted his first two deliveries from the hapless Adams for six and four.

Victory was finally the stroll it deserved to be and Shapwick had completed the double over Warminster.

Next up for Shapwick is another must-win game at home to Cheltenham, Premier One champions just a few years ago.