TROWBRIDGE earned a rare tie in their opening Premier Two Glos/Wilts contest at Corsham on Saturday.

Skipper Tom Weaver won the toss and elected to field first, a decision which backfired as Corsham’s opening pair in Tom Smith and Adam Mitchell put on a quick 50 for the opening wicket.

Harry Veal broke the deadlock for Trowbridge though when bowling Mitchell (15), leaving the home side at 51-1.

That quickly became 51-2 as Tom Smith departed in the following over from the bowling of George Reed.

Wickets continued to be shared around by Trowbridge as Tom Lloyd and Brad Angell reduced the hosts to 74-4 before wicketkeeper Martin Roberts restored some order for Corsham by hitting a handy 30 in the middle-order.

But as wickets fell, so did the run-rate. Veel, Mitchell, Reed and Angell picked up two wickets apiece as Corsham were bowled out for 168 after 42.4 overs.

In reply, Trowbridge made a steady start as Billy Cookson and Weaver passed 20 without the loss of wicket before a middle order collapse reduced Trowbridge to 76-5 as Tom Oakley, Ryan Pieterson and Veal scored 17 between them.

John Carroll (24) and Reed (24*) combined to take the game into the final over, where Reed hit a six off the final ball to earn the tie.

Trowbridge skipper Weaver said: "The game was a rollercoaster from start to finish. There were times throughout the day where it looked difficult for either team to salvage a result.

"Corsham got off to a quick start with the bat but a great 10-over spell from our man of the match George Reed slowed the run rate down to put us back in control.

"I was very impressed with Tom Lloyd who took the important wicket of Sam Collier.

"At the halfway stage we definitely felt that we were in control of the game. We spoke about taking the game deep and by taking it to the last ball we gave ourselves an opportunity to salvage a result.

"I think it was a fair result. Both teams deserved to win at different stages of the game.

"Of course a win against Corsham in our first game was what we were aiming for but to walk away with more league points than our opponents it almost felt like a win.

In Premier Two Glos/Wilts, Westbury secured a comfortable 76-run victory at home to Lechlade.

Westbury openers Remano Esau (64) and Michael Coles (77) put on 142 for the opening wicket, allowing the home side to play with more aggression in the second half of their innings.

Westbury reached 256-9 from their 50 overs as David Novais starred with the ball for Lechlade, returning with figures of 4-38.

Lechlade had just eight runs on the board by time they lost their first two wickets.

Bradley Dial (60) and Benny Ellis (35) restored hope for the visitors, but a polished five-wicket haul for Richard Mills (5-30) restricted Lechlade as they were bowled out for 180.