SPYE PARK maintained their challenge for the Division Two championship with a 41 run home win over Sutton Veny.

They scored 233-8, with Jon Haines making 130, Tom Harding 26 not out and John Bathe 24.

For Sutton Veny Rob Robson took 3-73 in 10 overs and Andy Pratt 3-30.

Simeon Brand (52 not out) and Rob Cook (48) then top scored in Sutton Veny's reply of 192-8, with Dave Beal taking 3-56 in 13 overs and Sam Cottis 3-47 in nine.

The race for promotion remains wide open, with the top three sides all winning, and opening up a gap on the fourth and fifth placed sides.

Second place Lechlade bowled out bottom placed Beanacre for 199, with Tim Tandy making 54 not out and Steve Wakely 34. Mike Southall, 3-41 in 14 overs, was the pick of the Lechlade bowlers.

At 108-5 Lechlade were in some trouble but Paul Rowley (38 not out) shared in two valuable partnerships with Paul Bright and Fernan Khan which helped them to a three wicket win with 11 balls left.

The meeting of third and fourth at Urchfont saw visitors Cooper-Avon Tyres triumph by 45 runs.

Cooper-Avon made 259-6 thanks to the contributions of Steve Rendell (84), Steve Bailey (55) and Derek Wilde (51). Sid Crouch was the pick of the Urchfont bowlers taking 4-64 in 15 overs.

Despite the efforts of Cosmo Cupid (64) and Kevin Frubat (57), Urchfont were never quite able to meet the asking rate and ended at 214-7, Rob Hemmings taking 3-48 in his 15 overs.

Surprise in the division was the defeat of fifth placed Swindon Civil Service at home to lowly Burbage and ER.

Burbage scored 166 all out with Alan Wheeler making 42 and Pete Amor 43 as Nick Money took 4-22 in 5.1 overs. Civil Service were then dismissed for 165 with two overs left to give Burbage only their second victory by just one run.

Buscot Park gained a valuable win at home to Seagry.

Peter Harris (59) and Hamish Millar (41) helped them to 199-8 as Willy Tidmarsh took 4-76. Steve Thompsett (45) then top scored in Seagry's response of 154 all out.

Ian Mills, 6-40, and Ronny Fernandez, 3-32, took the wickets.

The defeat will leave Seagry anxiously watching Burbage's remaining results, with their meeting in the final week perhaps being crucial.

AVEBURY recovered from last week's surprise defeat to secure a six wicket win against visiting Swindon 3rds.

Swindon scored 213-6 with Steve Barnett (41) and Garry James (71) top scoring with Rob Gater taking 2-22 in 11 overs and Peter Force-James 3-39 in six.

John Rhineberg (41) and Henry Fry (51) then helped steer Avebury home with three overs remaining.

Wanborough lost ground in second spot as they were beaten by lowly Moredon Royal Oak.

Nick Stacey (49 not out) and Dave Cox (33) helped Wanborough to 165-9 as L Khan picked up 3-31.

Stacey then took 3-48 but with Mat Evans making 50 and Roger Morton 43, Moredon followed up last week's surprise with another as they won by five wickets.

Another shock was Highworth's two wicket win at Lambourn. The home side collapsed to 78 all out and despite Paul Annetts taking 5-25 in 14 overs, Lee Beaver (39) and Neil Malcolm (20 not out) steered Highworth to victory.

These wins have now drawn other sides into the relegation zone as only 15 points cover the bottom five sides, although some of the teams have games in hand.

Cherhill are one of these teams as despite making 223-7 they went down by two wickets to visiting Blunsdon.

For Cherhill Mark Gresham (98) and John Candy (50) top scored. Then, despite Garry Vaughan taking 4-64 in 15 overs, it was John Hancock (57), Julian Beckett (56) and Tim Harrison (49) who saw Blunsdon home in the 43rd over.

Wroughton recovered from last week's defeat to gain a comfortable win at home to Heytesbury.

The visitors were bowled out for 117 with Phil Woodcock taking 4-33 in 10 overs. Martin Gregory (46 not out) then led Wroughton to an eight wicket success with ten overs left.