BIDDESTONE'S promotion charge suffered a setback on Saturday after a dramatic collapse saw them bowled out for 97 at Malmesbury.

Their eight wicket defeat means they have slipped to second place in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire League Division Two as they bid for back-to-back promotions.

After a great start to the season that saw them lose just one match in seven, Biddestone have now lost twice in three weeks as their challenge begins to falter.

Having been put into bat, Biddestone looked as though they were on the way to a respectable total reaching 45-1, with Jon Mason (22) and Sam Thornton (16) scoring quickly.

But after the loss of these two the wickets started to fall and just 52 runs later Biddestone had been bowled out for 97.

Malmesbury had little trouble reaching the target and despite two wickets from captain Dwaine Perry they reached 99 after just 27 overs.

Perry described the match as a day he would like to forget and said the reaction of his players in tomorrow's match at Wootton Bassett would be vital.

He said: "Saturday was a complete disaster. It was just a completely forgettable day where nothing went right.

"Early on we were on the wrong end of some poor umpiring decision and from there we stood little chance.

"But I can't blame the umpire because we also played some very poor strokes.

"We were all very disappointed but we have to get over it.

"We are still in second and on course for promotion so we just have to make sure we don't ruin all our hard work."

Vice-captain Chris Bolton will be back available for selection tomorrow after returning from holiday and Perry is expecting a vast improvement from his side.

He said: "We know we are capable of better than that and we fell below the standards we have set ourselves in the last few seasons.

"It was a very heavy defeat but these things do happen from time to time and it is now all about how we react to it.

"I am sure they will all be determined to get back to winning ways and put Saturday's result behind them."