WARMINSTER skipper Tom Davie admitted his side were somewhat fortunate to overcome struggling Tewkesbury last weekend.

Having looked in a commanding position thanks to a 116-run opening stand between Davie and Ankit Shastri, Warminster could only post a below-par 227-8.

Tewkesbury looked well on course to chase that down as they brought up 170 for the loss of just three wickets, but some inspired bowling changes led to a collapse and Warminster were able to complete a 23-run success.

“It was a really, really good result for us,” said Davie, whose side remain second in the table behind leaders Rockhampton.

“They haven’t done that well so far this year and are near the bottom of the table but that can make them a bit of a banana skin but we were able to come through.”

Davie (37) and Shastri (76) made hay after winning the toss, although after both fell it led to a mini collapse as 143-1 became 198-8.

With Warminster in danger of failing to pass 200, they were grateful to the efforts of David Bateman (35*) who swiftly steadied the ship and help the home side post a defendable total.

James Chamberlayne was the pick of the Tewkesbury attack with figures of 3-15 Davie said: “We chose to bat first and myself and Ankit went out and played pretty positively.

“We took them on and put them under pressure. We seem to bat really well together so that got us off to a really good start.

“Maybe one of us should have gone on to get a big score and after that we had a bit collapse and we were a bit grateful to David for some really good batting later on.

“We finished with a respectable score but one that was probably below par. I think maybe on that pitch 275 should have been the minimum but we were actually thinking 300 after the start we had.”

Rory Cullinan (4-22) and John Powell (1-28) took early wickets in the Tewkesbury but Tom Allcoat (72) led a spirited response.

With less than 60 runs needed and seven wickets in hand, the visitors looked on course for a shock victory but Shastri (2-37) and Peter Hickerton (3-19) turned the game on its head.

“The two opening bowlers have been superb this season and that was the case again but we were quite poor after that and put some catches down,” said Davie.

“They had a really good partnership and it was actually their game to lose at one point.

“We made a few changes and brought Ankit back into the attack and he got a couple of wickets and that put the pressure on.”