SWINDON 2nd were left to rue a below-par batting display as they lost ground in their pursuit of Division One leaders Potterne 2nd after a heavy nine-wicket defeat away at Great Bedwyn.

Number seven Harry Chevis’ 29 was the best score a Swindon player could muster with the bat, as Bedwyn’s Nick Davies took 5-35 to bowl them out for 139 in 35 overs.

Opener Robert Palmer promptly laid siege to the Swindon bowling attack in the hosts’ reply, smashing an unbeaten 111 to guide his side to victory inside 19 overs, finishing on 141-1.

Potterne 2nd are now 25 points clear at the top after a slender one-wicket win at Hinton Charterhouse saw them make it eight victories in nine matches this summer.

Tom Baker scored 94 to help Hinton set a decent total of 253-6 off their 45 overs, with Henry Cheal (65) and Chris Antrobus (51) offering good support.

In reply, Sam Gaiger (81) and Josh Hodder (70) seemed to have the Potterne on course for a comfortable run chase before a flurry of wickets, led by Grant Sheppard (3-34), gave the leaders a huge scare.

However, they kept their composure and got over the winning line at 254-9 with just two balls to spare.

Nationwide House came up agonisingly short in their run chase at home to Winsley as they suffered a five-run defeat.

House’s Mason Thompson took 3-46 to help restrict Winsley to 227-7 as Nick Gerrish (57) and Thomas Wheatley (54) led the way with the bat.

There were also to two half-centuries in the House reply courtesy of Nick Clarke (59) and Jonathon Clarke (50), but by the time their 45 overs were up, the hosts were still just short of their target on 222-6.

Four wickets for Malmesbury’s Fin Beldon set up an eight-wicket success at home to Avebury.

The visitors were bowled out for 147 despite an unbeaten 47 from Bruce Cook before Michael Collison (64) and Jack Ward (44 not out) led a successful Malmesbury run chase, finishing on 151-2 inside 29 overs.

Division Two

A FABULOUS five-wicket haul from Paul Bates saw leaders Chippenham 2nd claim a 75-run success at home to Lacock.

Lewis Simmons (4-65) was equally impressive with the ball for Lacock but Paul Bates (70) and Jack Humphrys (60) led Chippenham to a hefty 270-6 off their 45 overs.

Bates (5-36) then caused Lacock plenty of problems in reply and they were bowled out for 195 despite Matt Loft’s gritty 64.

Fine figures of 4-14 from Thomas Walker led Biddestone 2nd to an eight-wicket win at Beehive Southwick.

The home side were all out for 122 and Biddestone needed less than 26 overs to chase that down, with James Barlett’s unbeaten 53 guiding them to 126-2.

Division Five

MELKSHAM surrendered their place at the top of the table after a crushing 159-run defeat at Purton 2nd.

Forced into the field first on a swelteringly hot day, Melksham had to watch as David Allen (69), Mark Wilson (66 not out) and Phil Duffell (48) helped Purton post a total of 227-4.

In reply, the visitors had no answer to a stunning display of bowling as they were skittled for 68 in just 18 overs.

Jamie Richards returned astonishing figures of 5-4, while Fraser Conway also claimed 4-11.

Biddestone 3rd inflicted an eighth defeat in nine games on Bathford this season after a seven-wicket success on home turf.

Adam Brunton scored 75 of Bathford’s 178-4 total but opener Joshua Boulton led a comfortable Biddestone run chase as his 118, aided by 41 from Cormac Pritchett, saw the hosts claim victory inside 26 overs. Jujhar Garcha claimed all three wickets to fall for Bathford.

Division Seven

A MAIDEN century from 16-year-old Ben Oakley saw Malmesbury 2nd beat their Lacock counterparts by 82 runs.

Oakley (118), Oliver Burke (76) and Antony Wood (53) helped Malmesbury post 295-5 and the Lacock reply was still well short at the conclusion of their 45 overs.

Joe Foley scored 64 and Mike Houseman added 55 but the visitors could only reach 213-5.

Division Nine

THERE were also teenage heroics for Marlborough 3rd as Fraser Taylor took four wickets, although it was not enough to prevent a 93-run loss at their Winsley counterparts.

Taylor (4-25) led the Marlborough attack as Winsley posted 239-7 thanks to Matt White’s 78 and 60 from Scott Sandford.

Andrew Crabbe (65) got the Marlborough reply off to a good start but White took 4-18 to bowl them out for 146.