Ollie Smith drives through the off side (34547/14)
OLLIE Smith answered an 11th hour SOS to help Wiltshire make a winning start
to the 2008 season with a 42 run victory over Cornwall at Devizes.
Smith was enjoying a Sunday morning lie-in when Wiltshire captain Richard
Bedbrook phoned to ask him to play in the opening game of the MCCA Knockout
Trophy.
Bedbrook was left with only 10 players when all-rounder Roger Sillence
phoned from Oxford to say his car had been vandalised.
Said Bedbrook: "We couldn't be sure what time Roger was going to get to the
ground, so I phoned Ollie and asked him if he could play.
"I think I got him out out of bed, but he was at the ground in under an
hour.
"When he got here I told him he was batting number three. Ollie's very
level-headed and I knew he wouldn't be fazed by it at all."
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Smith, who formerly played for Corsham, now turns out for village side
Potterne.
Said Bedbrook: "I expect he's the first Potterne player to play for
Wiltshire.
"He played very well and made a significant contribution."
Smith went in after Hampshire professional Liam Dawson was dismissed for 12
and was Wiltshire's second top scorer with 29.
Corsham captain Michael Coles top scored with 52 and Corsham all-rounder
Alex Senneck made 28 towards the end of the innings.
Kelvin Snell, with figures of four for 61 off eight overs, was Cornwall's
top bowler.
Senneck made early inroads in the Cornwall reply, reducing the visitors to
55 for five at one stage before they recovered to 145 all out in the 42nd
over.
Senneck was Wiltshire's best bowler, with figures of four for 28 from his 10
overs, and slow left armer Dawson, the former Chippenham all-rounder, took
two for 13 from seven overs.
Bedbrook, who was forced into making a second late team change, when Damian
Shirazi pulled out with a back injury - leg spinner Pat Turk taking his
place - was delighted with his team's performance.
"We played very well and what was particularly pleasing was that every
single member of the team made a contribution.
"In recent seasons we have always lost the opening Knockout Cup game, so it
was good to start with a win this time.
"We've identified Devon and Cornwall as the two strongest sides the group so
to beat Cornwall has given us confidence going into the Devon game this
weekend."
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