COUNTIES CRICKET Wiltshire in running for Western title

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Last Updated on Sunday, 23 August 2026 08:12

Published on Sunday, 23 August 2026 07:40

Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent

Wiltshire’s emergence as potential Western Division champions in the NCCA Cluberly Championship may have taken many people by surprise, but not their captain Ed Young.

Wiltshire were relegated in 2021, the first year of two leagues in each of the Eastern and Western Divisions of the competition, and they only pipped neighbours Dorset to promotion 12 months ago by one point.

Having beaten Herefordshire in their Championship opener at Eastnor last month Wiltshire were brought down to earth with a bump when they crashed to defeat inside two days against Oxfordshire at Corsham in their next match.

But a stunning victory over Berkshire at Henley on Tuesday has now set up a title showdown with Devon, the reigning Western Division champions, at the South Wilts club in Salisbury starting today (1100) with a place in next month’s national final also at stake.

“We have been building to this for a while now. We had a really nice environment last year and managed to squeeze promotion by one bonus point. We have managed to keep that group together and a lot of the older experienced guys want to play for us in three-day cricket,” Young said.

“We are actually at the capacity of the age limit for NCCA with myself, Joe King, Jack Mynott, Chris Aubrey, Jake Lintott and Jake Goodwin. These guys have all been playing for an extended period now.

“So, I kind of felt this we were starting to reach the peak of Wiltshire cricket with those players and a couple of young guys coming in and doing well.

“I always felt that we had got it in there somewhere. It was just whether we could deliver it out there on the day.”

Wiltshire, as Young acknowledges, have not always delivered but everything came together for them at Henley last week where they inflicted just a third Championship defeat on Berkshire in 12 years. Remarkably both Young, a former Gloucestershire batter/off-spinner, and off-spinner King both played in Wiltshire’s previous victory over Berkshire at the Falkland club in 2014.

“It’s certainly been a season of ebbs and flows. We had the high of beating Herefordshire, setting them 522 to win in the last innings and then on the first day against Oxfordshire at Corsham being 70 for nought in the first hour then being bowled out for 120 and beaten by an innings,” Young said.

“At that point I thought we weren’t in a great position but with Devon and Berkshire drawing that certainly gave us a chance. Luckily, we made it right against Berkshire at Henley.

“Spin dominated the Corsham game and we didn’t play spin very well there which is disappointing because we generally have over the last couple of years. The pitch was good at Henley but, main thing is that at the start of every game I ask the team: If it’s your day and you are on make sure you become a match-winner. But if you are not then just find a way to contribute.

“I would say at Henley we had match winners. We had guys who put in match-winning performances but against Oxfordshire we didn’t have that.”

Wiltshire’s match-winners at Henley were seamer Sam Freestone, a recruit from Oxford UCCE this season, who took nine wickets in the match;  King, who took second innings wickets; Lintott, with 77 at more than a run-a-ball in is first Championship innings in four years having returned from Warwickshire, and Mynott, who batted 75 overs for a career-best 158 having limbered up with a 10km run before play on the second day.

“The three-day competition is definitely Joe’s preferred format. He very much wants to bowl overs and he’s a competitive lad which is great. He has been an absolute stalwart for Wiltshire for many years now,” Young said

“I remember someone who we were playing against a while ago said it’s like facing a bowling machine. Joe’s just so consistent and relentless with his line and length. He’s got a very repeatable and good bowling action and he has been a great asset to Wiltshire.

“Jake came at Henley in when we were 150 for three and the game was really in the balance. He gave some real momentum to our innings with 77 off not many balls and that allowed us to get a lead and push the game forward.

“At the end of day one we were 73 for nought and that just took the sting out of the new ball and when before we went out on Monday morning Jack had actually run 10k before play. He then batted for 75 overs for his highest Championship score which is a pretty good effort.

“It was mad absolutely mad. But running for Jack is his mental peace. It puts him a good place mentally. All of us mere mortals in the team were saying: what the hell? You’ve done a casual 10k run and then gone and batted 75 overs?”

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