Village side back on top

Having won promotion from the Wiltshire League last season, Biddestone are now just three games away from clinching their second successive promotion, but Saturday's win was a close contest.

With 10 balls remaining, Bassett needed eight runs with one wicket left, but as they pushed for a single, Lodder reacted instinctively to run out the backing up batsman.

The top four teams in the league are still close together and with a match at fellow promotion contenders Swindon tomorrow, Biddestone captain Dwaine Perry knows there is still a lot to play for.

He said: "Saturday was a very important win but we have some hard work to do before we secure promotion, or the title.

"I think it will probably go down to the last game although a win at Swindon would give us a very big advantage.

"If we could win promotion again it would be an amazing achievement for a village side like ours."

After a rare defeat last week, Biddestone batted steadily throughout their innings on Saturday without ever really taking control.

A middle order stand between Lodder (61) and Phil Boore (32) helped the home side reach 182 for eight from their 45 overs.

In reply, Wootton Bassett started poorly as their top four batsmen were sent back to the pavilion for 50 runs.

But a middle order stand of 70 put them back into the game and the visitors went into the last two overs with one wicket standing, and 19 runs needed.

Perry's first two balls went for six and four to give the visitors the advantage before Lodder stepped in to keep Biddestone's promotion push on track.

Perry said: "Their batsman destroyed my first two balls but then thankfully Mike saved us.

"It was a very close game but it went our way and we can now look forward.

"Our main priority is to finish in the top two positions and if we win the title, we will just look at it as an amazing bonus."