Bradford Town 1st XI (19 points) beat Wroughton 1st XI (8 points) by 18 runs.

Bradford Town continued their unbeaten start to the season by recording a closely fought 18 run victory at Wroughton.

Put into bat first on a spongy pitch, Bradford made heavy work of the first 30 overs, reaching 100-3 at this point, with an innings of 35 from Clive Warren countered by a great spell of bowling from Wroughton’s Mark McMeeking 12-4-18-1.

A dogged fourth wicket partnership between Bradford captain James Edwards (55) and Tony Laws (26) kept Bradford’s score ticking along and with the run rate given its much needed injection by James Pike (20) and Kegan Smart (35 not out), Bradford closed their 45 overs on 199-6, a competitive total on a difficult batting track.

Wroughton’s reply got off to a bad start with Kegan Smart continuing his good form with three quick wickets to leave the home side 16 for 3 after the first 8 overs.

At 43 for 4, things were looking bleak for Wroughton and Bradford were sensing a comprehensive victory. However, some determined batting from Mike Evans (27) and Johan Cloete (51) kept wickets in tact against the tiring Bradford attack.

Wroughton then made an assault on the Bradford total in the final 10 overs with Mark McMeeking smashing the ball to all parts of the ground to hit an excellent 64 not out.

With 70 runs coming from these last 10 overs, Wroughton came within 18 runs of the Bradford score at 181-8. Kegan Smart finished with figures of 12-1-47-4 to cap another excellent all-round display.

Bradford Town 2nd XI (5 point) lost to Lambourn (23 points) by 84 runs.

Bradford Town skipper won the toss and asked Lambourn to bat first. The Lambourn openers got off to a slow, but steady start.

Bradford opening bowler, Khyl Harrington once again bowled with accuracy, but Lambourn opener, Ian Hobbs, played very well keep the ball out. Hobbs went on to score 62 runs and kept the Lambourn innings together. Paul Annetts came in down the order and smashed a quick fire 32.

Pick of the Bradford Town bowlers was Dean Bird coming back from a poor first over to bowl 12 straight overs and taking two good wickets finishing with figures of 12-3-37-2.

Paul Annetts (8-3-18-5) opened the bowling for Lambourn with devastating consequences for the Bradford Town reply. Set 181 runs to win, Bradford were struggling at 19-5 in the eleventh over with Paul Annetts taking two wickets in two balls in his fifth over.

Annetts was ably supported by Mundy (9.1-3-13-2). The Bradford innings was given some respectability by Darren Jones, who made an excellent 42 in quick time. The youngsters of Bradford Town, Kit Chapman (9 not out) and Tom Wade (5) came in late and batted very well on a difficult wicket.