WINSLEY skipper Kevin Hendy thinks a confident batting display provided the springboard for his side’s opening-day victory over Malmesbury last weekend.

Three players hit half-centuries as the home side posted 265-8 before they eased to an 83-run victory over their newly-promoted opposition.

“It was a very good batting performance. Nick Gerrish got 50 not out on debut and Damian Barry did the same on his recall to the first team,” said Hendy.

“265 was a good score on an early-season pitch. We’ve made a few improvements to our batting with the players that we’ve brought in and I think we would have only got about 200 last year.

“Our bowling still needs a few of the kinks ironing out. Malmesbury were a bit of a unknown quantity and they came out of the traps like a steam train.

“We had to change things around and once we brought in Dan Call and Tom Walker, that gave us a modicum of control.”

Alain Hewett top-scored for Winsley, who were put in to bat first after losing the toss, with a knock of 67.

Simon Norris weighed in with 35 before Barry and Gerrish found their rhythm, hitting unbeaten totals of 50 and 52 respectively as the home side completed their innings.

James Gaunt led Malmesbury’s run chase with 65 from 55 deliveries whilst George Royle (37) and Mark Toseland (35) also contributed but the remainder of the order failed to reach double figures.

Tom Walker was the pick as he claimed 4-24, helping Winsley skittle their opponents for 182 after 34 overs.

Elsewhere, Lydon Gibbons starred with a century as Westbury claimed a three-wicket victory over Marlborough.

Alex Senneck’s side won the toss and put their visitors in to bat first but they were soon left reeling as Arran Dickinson knocked away 20 boundaries on his way to 128.

But his wicket was claimed by Gibbons, who ended the afternoon with figures of 3-32 as Marlborough were skittled for 257 at the end of their innings, Andy Carroll also taking three wickets.

Westbury’s Gibbons wasn’t to be outshone by Dickinson, and he hit 19 fours and four sixes on his way to 127.

Jared McDonald (34) and Ben Whiting (34) were also amongst the runs as the hosts reached 258-7 in 46 overs.

Trowbridge beat Calne by five wickets at the County Ground, Scott Mitchell and captain Mikey Reynolds taking 3-15 and 3-24 respectively to skittle their visitors for just 102 midway through the 36th over.

Sam Julyan’s unbeaten 26 and Andrea Agathangelou and Stuart Edginton’s knocks of 17 were enough to help Trowbridge to 106-5 in little more than 28 overs.