A BATTLING unbeaten 41 from bowler Rory Cullinan guided Warminster home in their run chase at Devizes as they claimed their first win of the season.

Cullinan only took one wicket with the ball as two each from Dominic Webb, John Powell and Brad Small restricted Devizes to 173-8 off their 50 overs.

Tim Saye top scored for the home side with 42 but he and David Bromley (37) were the only Devizes batsmen to pass 20.

A fluent 46 from opener Nick Hembury saw the Warminster reply reach 60 for the loss of just one wicket but when he fell to Tom Grant (3-24), Pete Hickerton’s side almost fell apart.

A score of 63-1 became 105-7 but number eight Cullinan was able to steady the ship and only one further wicket fell before Warminster reached their target in the 45th over, finishing on 174-8.

Captain Hickerton said: “I’m really pleased. After the setback of last week, it’s good to get that first win under our belt early on.

“A lot of the lads bowled really well. Brad Small’s 10 overs only went for nine runs, which is pretty good going for a leg spinner, but everyone did well and it was a good bowling effort all round. We were pleased to keep them down to a score of around 170.

“We were a bit nervous at times during the reply but the lads did a really good job when the pressure was on.

“It was really good to see that we didn’t panic when it got towards the end, we dug in and got over the line.

“Those guys at the bottom of the order did it with the bat as well as the ball for us this week so we’ve got them to thank.”

Elsewhere, Trowbridge also got a first league win of the summer under their belts as a fine all-round effort saw them beat Marlborough by 72 runs at home.

Of the nine Trowbridge batsmen to fall, only Sam Julyan failed to reach double figures as Billy Cookson (65) and Ryan Pieterson (60) led the way to a score of 288-9.

Marlborough’s Zwelibanzi Homani made an unbeaten 112 in reply but the rest of his side found scoring tough with the visitors only able to reach 216-7 from their 50 overs.