With the Midweek XI being the team to beat in Division 2 their fine run had to come to an end eventually - Painswick who had inflicted the team's only previous defeat of the season came with a very strong team of Gloucester Division regulars and there was a big gulf in "talent".
This gulf was inevident for much of this game as the Midweek XI battled until the end before dropping to a 4 wicket defeat.
Winning the toss, skipper Dan Anderson chose to bat and up against the opening bowler from Frocester, Westbury openers Ross Martin and Neil Wyman looked comfortable and got off to a superb start reached 37 off the first 4 overs before Martin was bowled for 13 and Wyman caught behind for 27. Wickets then began falling at regular intervals, Greg Artus hitting 20 with some big 6s through the leg side. Number 10 Tom Burrows also chipped in with some big hitting in the final over to finish unbeaten on 19 alongside Chris Wayman who ran intelligently to finish on 11 before the innings ended on 137 for 8 from the 20 overs.
With pressure on the Painswick openers from ball 1, several streaky edges and attacking shots meant they got off to a similarly fast start to take the pressure off in an attempt to kill the game. When one of the openers was removed thanks to a run out by Ian Martin wickets began falling and the run rate was rapidly increasing. A superb spell of off-spin bowling by Dan Hockaday deserved much more than just 2 wickets and he was backed up by Greg Artus who bowled with good pace and movement off the pitch. Despite this spell of Westbury pressure some late hitting and a dropped catch meant the visitors reached their target after 18 overs.
The result means the Midweek XI drop to 2nd in the table purely on Net Run Rate with a game in hand on the league leaders - still in with a very strong chance of Promotion at the first attempt back to Division 1.
Next week the Midweek XI travel to Witcombe.
Pete Wilson again produced a superb album of photographs from this fixture, many of which can be seen here :
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.352948894775859.78977.100001822552666&type=1
(Copyright: Pete Wilson Photography)
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