A LONG afternoon in the field beckoned for Yorkley after losing the toss on their visit to Westbury.

With the sunshine making for perfect cricket weather, Westbury skipper Neil Wyman had no hesitation in putting in the visitors.

Despite being able to only field nine players Yorkley set to their task with opening bowler Ben Homer getting swing and movement with the new ball. He was rewarded in his fifth over with the wicket of opener Rich Edginton for 14.

At the other end, Hugh Gibbs also got the ball to move but was often wayward and with Westbury's skipper in fine form of late he needed no invitation to go after the loose deliveries.

Wyman quickly reached his third consecutive half centur and went on to make 65 from just 57 balls including 14 boundaries.

He was ably supported with 33 from Gary Morgan and by the halfway point in their innings Westbury had reached 124 for 2.

A couple of quick wickets fell and Yorkley must have felt that their hard work in the field was going to restrict Westbury.

But a blistering partnership of 100 between Tom Burrows (60) and Colin Lewis (40) in just 12 overs left the visitors to take tea facing the task of chasing 261 to win.

The pick of their bowlers were Ben Homer (1 for 36) and TomWorgan (2 for 37).

Yorkley's innings started brightly with Homer looking fluent before mistiming a drive and being caught for 17.

But it was the introduction of Westbury's Tom Burrows that struck into the heart of the visitors batting. He bowled with pace and accuracy to remove Tom Rudd for five and Liam Hurcombe for six.

Ian Broady with his wily leg spin at the other end, was a perfect foil for Burrows and in their effort to score quick runs Broady was able to claim the scalps of Mark Moodie and Tom Worgan, both for 29.

Realising the chance to win was now gone, Dan Edmunds and wicket keeper Mike Lacey set about preserving their wickets and trying to get batting bonus points, taking Yorkley to 175 for 7 at the close.

Wyman said: "All cricketers know that turning up with nine players makes for a very long day. But the Yorkley team can be very proud of the way they persevered."