MALMESBURY'S five-match wining run came to a frustrating end as they battled in vain to stop Swindon reaching a winning total on Saturday.

The resurgent home side had gone into the game believing they could beat ther more illustrious visitors and despite a low total on a damp wicket that dried to a more friendly surface during the day, they were still in with a shout until the last few overs.

Skipper Richard Mosdell won the toss for the home side and chose to bat.

The visitors' Matthew Barrett was the scourge of the top order, claiming the wickets of Richard Gaunt, 18, BK Majumder, 1, and Jeremy Newman, 9.

Newman was dismissed with a totally unplayable ball that demonstrated Barrett as getting the most out of the conditions.

But Malmesbury forced themselves back into the game as the overs ticked away. Dan Horton top scored with 39 and James Pearce-Smith, 20, and Mark Lester, 15, helped extend the total to 141 for 9 by the end of the 45 overs.

With in-form Darren Rourke opening for Swindon, Malmesbury had reason to fear a heavy defeat but some tight bowling restricted the big hitter and when Majumder had him trapped for a contentious lbw, the home side seemed to gain confidence.

Swindon captain John Baden eked out 43 before going lbw off the bowling of Richard Gaunt.

At that stage Malmesbury had high hopes of snatching a win but they reckoned without the stubborn resistance of Mohamed Zohaib and Roger Willoughby, who held on to take the visitors to their target with 2.3 overs to spare.

Malmesbury's frustration was compunded when Zohaib was dropped and two other high shots just the clutching hands of fielders on the boundary.

Mosdell was disappointed with the result but is taking comfort from the fact the close nature of the game shows how far his side have come from the heavy defeat against the same side of earlier in the season.

"There was a time when I might have taken just running them close. But it shows we've improved when we are disappointed in losing like that.

"I'm disappointed for the boys because they fought hard today, espacially in the baking heat.''

He said he had been unsure how to approach the Swindon innings after his side made 141. "To be honest it is one of those totals where you don't know whether to defend it or go for wickets. They were always odds on to score the runs, especially with Rourke in the side,'' he said.

"But we kept him quiet really because we bowled a good line and we fielded well. Once he had gone we thought we had a chance but we couldn't get the wickets.

"We did what we we have been doing the last few weeks, we bowled tight but it just didn't come for us. If we'd got the ninth wicket I think it might have been a different game.''

Malmesbury have three games left, beginning with a trip to Hatherley on Saturday and Mosdell is looking for a similar display.

"It is a bit like the Swindon game. We know they are a good side but the way we have been playing we think we can beat them,'' he said.