LEADERS Trowbridge were indebted to Matthew Hopkins as he saved them from defeat in their tied WEPL Wiltshire game with fellow high-flyers Swindon.

With one ball remaining, Mike Reynolds’ side, who had been bowled out for 196, had their visitors at 196-9 with Swindon wicketkeeper Andy Staff on strike.

However, defeat was avoid as Hopkins had the Swindon man caught by George Reed for seven to leave Swindon all out for 196.

Trowbridge had won the toss and opted to bat at their County Ground home and saw Billy Cookson and Tom Weaver, who was on nine at the time, share a first-wicket stand of 43 before the former fell 19.

Weaver was eventually dismissed for 21 to leave Trowbridge at 63-2, which soon became 74-4 as skipper Mike Reynolds and Sam Julyan fell cheaply.

Hopkins steadied the ship for his side as he played the anchor role with a 100-ball 57 and he shared a 44-run fifth-wicket stand with Ryan Pieterson (23).

Trowbridge were eventually bowled out for 196 midway through the 48th over, with their score boosted by 35 extras. Swindon’s Adam Tucker was the pick of the bowlers with 5-28.

The visitors, like Trowbridge, made a steady start with their reply and reached 45 before Reed made the breakthrough as he bowled Tucker for 26.

Chris Aubrey was joined at the crease by Hampshire’s Jake Goodwin, who has also been playing for Wiltshire this past week, and they moved the score on to 88 before the opener departed for 25.

Swindon, at 88-2, looked well set for victory but none of their top five batsmen were able to convert their starts into big scores as they all hit 25 or more, yet, no one could go above 36.

At 181-8, Swindon looked favourites, and even when Reynolds removed Josh Weaver to leave the visitors 192-9, defeat for the hosts still looked inevitable.

Yet with one ball remaining and the scores level, Hopkins snatched a tie from the jaws of defeat.

Second placed Warminster closed the gap at the top to 16 points after they defeated Purton by 110 runs.

Skipper Peter Hickerton led the way with the bat as he struck 79 as his side posted 299-6, with opener Nick Hembury and Rory Cullinan chipping in with 53 and 50 respectively.

Warminster then dismissed their visitors inside 37 overs for 189, with Wouter Ras claiming 4-30, while opening bowler Cullinan picked up 3-51, including the match-winning wicket, from his 5.5 overs.