Marlborough 2nd XI welcomed Devizes 2nd XI to the Savernake Forest Ground for their final game of the season. The 2s needed to win, and for second placed Purton to slip up at home to Beehive Southwick, in order to secure promotion from Division 4.

Devizes had endured a torrid season, losing every game played, so it was no surprise when home captain Nick Crabbe opted to field first after winning the toss, hoping for a quick victory ahead of any potential weather interference. However, Devizes openers Gary Rogers and Jack Lowe had clearly not read the script and came out firing, with Lowe in particular latching onto anything full or off line from the Marlborough quicks. Lowe reached his 50 with a rare maximum off Bed Head, but Head held his nerve, bowling him with the next delivery, Devizes 71/1 from 17. At the other end, wily old timer Simon Wells bowled with discipline and was rewarded with the wicket of Harley Woodman, bowled for 12, leaving Devizes 91-2 at the halfway point. Head and Wells continued to bowl well after the drinks break, with Pete Hockley dropped early on off the bowling of Head. It was a regrettable miss as the Devizes captain made quick runs in an aggressive knock of 72, ably supported by the patient Rogers, with the pair adding 102 in 18 overs before Mohit Jaswal bowled Hockley. Four more wickets fell in the final 5 overs, two a piece for Udhav Bhan and Hassaan Asif, returning for their second spells, as Devizes finished on a healthy score of 227/7 from their 45 overs.

In reply, Marlborough openers Nick Crabbe and Andy Crabbe continued their recent good form, playing positively from the off. The pair found the boundary regularly and reached 60 from 14 overs before a quicker ball did for Andy Crabbe, bowled by Pete Hockley for 20. Zach Collister came and went cheaply, caught and bowled for 2 off Jack Lowe’s first delivery, causing some nerves in the home dressing room with the score 67-2 from 16.1. However, Nick Crabbe was holding his nerve and continued to bat effortlessly, soon passing 50. Crabbe was joined by the free-scoring Hassaan Asif, who introduced himself by dispatching his second ball for 6, a sign of things to come. The pair added 50 before drinks, as the required runs dipped under 100. With the required rate hovering at 4 an over, the pair could afford to be patient, but Asif was in no mood for hanging around! 4s and 6s rained around the Savernake Forest Ground, entertaining the large home crowd, as Asif notched his first club hundred. It took just 33.3 overs for them to reach the total, completing an 8 wicket win and an impressive points haul, Crabbe finishing on 76 not out and Asif 114 not out in an unbroken partnership of 162. In the process, Nick Crabbe became the first person in club history to pass 10,000 runs, a superb achievement.

Unfortunately over at Purton, 10 man Beehive lacked the necessary sting in their tail to defeat the home side, with Purton securing a 132 run victory and promotion. Full credit to them and Corsham who have shown great consistency over the season and are a very worthy top two. Good luck to them in Division 3 next year.

Although the side narrowly missed out on promotion this year, there were some outstanding individual performances, with Marlborough dominating the divisional honours. Hassaan Asif, Pete Day and Nick Crabbe finished 1st, 2nd and 4th respectively in the leading run scorers. Asif also finished as leading wicket taker in an outstanding debut season, with Ben Head not far behind in second. Finally, Scott Baker took the wicket keeping honours with 15 dismissals.

Thanks to all those who have played and supported the side this season, particularly our umpire Roy Bate who has officiated superbly and been great company all season, and the fantastic ground staff at MCC.