WARMINSTER suffered a major blow in their bid to raise themselves from the foot of the table as they were trounced by county rivals Burbage & Easton Royal at Sambourne Road.

The home side, minus absent skipper Tom Davie, were crushed by 10 wickets as they remained rooted to the basement with five games of the summer remaining.

Warminster are 15 points adrift of safety, with matches against title-chasing Goatacre and in-form Thornbury looming.

The home side won the toss and decided to bat, but it was a decision they soon came to regret.

They lost Jack Berrisford, Mark Coxon Tenty, Jamaine Bullen and Tristan Lundqvist for a combined 14 runs, leaving them floundering at 25-4 early on.

A partnership of 57 between stand-in skipper Peter Hickerton and David Bateman (nine not out) stemmed the bleeding somewhat but after Bateman departed, wickets fell regularly.

Hickerton was finally run out by Bevan Small for a 109-ball 93, which included 15 fours. But only Graham Cuthbertson (21) was able to offer support as the innings ended at 159 in 41 overs.

James Lavis took 3-39 for the visitors, while there were two wickets apiece for Tom Wallbridge, Oliver Lavis and Darran Freegard.

In contrast, the Burbage innings was a cruise.

Openers Jonathan Chandler and skipper David Cope carried their bats as the guided their side to victory in 28 overs.

Chandler hit 54 off 90 deliveries but was eclipsed by Cope, whose 87 came from 78 deliveries and included 12 fours and four sixes.