West of England Premier League Prem 2 Glos/Wilts division

Rockhampton 195-4 beat Westbury and District 194-4 by six wickets

ROCKHAMPTON are out of the West of England Premier League Prem 2 Glos/Wilts relegation zone after their second win of the season on Saturday.

They beat Wiltshire side Westbury by six wickets on a blustery afternoon at the Boundary Field where they were looking for a much-needed victory.

Having won the toss, Rockhampton captain Jamie Wakefield chose to insert the visitors, hoping that his bowlers could make use of the favourable overhead conditions. However, Westbury made a solid start to their innings on a good looking batting track. Having passed 50, Westbury looked in a strong position until seamer Chris Willoughby (1-18) made the breakthrough for Rockhampton, clean bowling Shallow for 18.

Sam Nichols (1-31) followed this with a wicket of his own, bowling Burdock for 36, as the hosts began to increase the pressure on the Westbury batsmen. Runs became increasingly difficult to come by for the visitors, and when off spinner Guy Brothwood (1-31) removed the dangerous Esau, Rockhampton found themselves in a strong position to keep Westbury below 200 runs. Home skipper Wakefield (1-44) picked up a well-deserved wicket before some late hitting from Dickinson (39 not out), alongside a gritty 60 not out from Mills, meant that Westbury finished on 194-4 from their 50 overs.

The Rockhampton chase began strongly before Matt Tyler was removed for 15 by visiting skipper Esau. Brothwood, after missing last week's defeat to Corsham, looked in good form as he and Wakefield pushed the score towards 100. When Brothwood was removed for 31, and Will Tyler fell shortly after to an outstanding catch by Dickinson in the slips, Westbury may have felt they were in with a chance of running through the Rockhampton batting lineup for an unlikely victory. However, Wakefield continued to look assured as he passed his 50, and found a willing partner in Rowan Cartlidge as any nerves were quickly settled by a string of boundaries.

Rockhampton completed the chase in the 45th over, with Wakefield finishing on an excellent 86 not out, and Cartlidge 29 not out. Westbury's total had always appeared to be 20 or 30 runs short, and this ultimately provided to be the case despite a valiant effort by the visiting bowlers.

The win moves Rockhampton out of the relegation zone and they will hope to follow this with a victory against local rivals Thornbury this week.