CRICKET: Underdogs ready to seize moment (From Wiltshire Times)

CRICKET: Underdogs ready to seize moment

12:30pm Saturday 14th July 2012 in Sport News

WILTSHIRE captain Joe Breet says his side are relishing their underdog tag ahead of this weekend’s MCCA Knockout Trophy semi-final clash.

The county side will travel to Leek for their rearranged clash with Staffordshire on Sunday, the original tie being rained off two weeks previously.

As his team bids to reach the final of the trophy, Breet insists that Wiltshire have overcome the odds before.

He said: “We’ve got a lot of young players and they’re really excited because it’s going to be the biggest game they’ve played in.

“It was a shame that we went up to Staffordshire a few weeks ago just to watch the rain come down but we can get the game played this time – we’re trying our best to find out how the wicket’s going to be.

“We’re definitely the underdogs.

“They’ve got someone who has played for Gloucester and someone else has opened the batting for Bath.

“When we played against Lincolnshire, they had a few Nottinghamshire players in their team – when you’re on the field, it’s just another person playing against you.” Wiltshire will go into their vital trophy clash off the back of their first defeat of the season after they suffered a 123-runs loss at Cornwall in the MCCA Championship at Falmouth earlier this week.

With the first day of play seen off by the wet weather, Breet’s men had no answer to Cornwall’s first stand of 199, despite Henry Langford’s stunning seven wickets.

“We had a bad game and it’s one of those things that will always happen to any team,” said the Wiltshire skipper.

“We had a bad session to start with and let them score 50 or 60 runs too many – I’m not too fussed though because I’d rather this happen against Cornwall than in the semi-final game.

“Despite that, Mukesh Bhatt took five wickets and Henry Langford got seven, which is a fantastic achievement.”

Langford’s seven came as Jacob Libby hit 44 for Cornwall, as they posted 199 before being skittled.

Wiltshire could then only manage 68 as they were bowled out in their first innings.

The hosts put on another 93 before declaring, despite Bhatt’s five wickets.

Tom Sharp then took 5-25 as Wiltshire were skittled out again for 101.