MARLBOROUGH completed their pre-season preparations with a defeat at local rivals Calne.

They won the toss and skipper Navid Ahmad decided to bat.

Peter Day opened the innings with Andy Halliday and both played with confidence against tight bowling from Calne's South African player Botes.

He eventually had Day caught for three while Halliday made an impressive 23 before he was caught.

Hendy Alleyne moved easily to 29 before he was caught off the bowling of Botes.

Jiggy Patel made nine and Richard Turnell 29 before he was asked to retire to allow the other batsmen some time at the wicket. Frank Whiting made 12 before he was run out.

The skipper was caught having scored seven and the other batsmen did little to test the scorer as Marlborough were all out for 126, Botes with 4-18 being well supported by Key (2-13) and Cunningham (2-19).

The Calne innings was given a very steady start by Botes and Sheppard.

Botes made 31 before he was caught off the bowling of Dobson while Sheppard hit a patient 17 before he was judged out caught by wicketkeeper Halliday off the bowling of Vik Patel.

Knight was well caught and bowled by David Slater for 12, who deserved a better return than 1-25 from his nine overs. Peter Mathias bowled ten overs, conceding just 12 runs for the wicket of Harris, caught at slip by Whiting.

Knight (12 not out) and Neil Gladding (28 not out), together with 18 extras saw Calne home with four overs to spare.

A solid 65 not out from Paul Stobbart took Devizes to victory in the opening Cockspur Cup (National Club Championship) first round clash against Malmesbury on Sunday.

Three wickets from Paul Vooght and Andy Langan saw Malmesbury all out for 142. In reply, an opening partnership from Stobbart and Tom Edwards (32) of 78 set the foundations for victory. With the loss of Edwards, Nick Paget and Stobbart closed in on victory, but with a single needed for victory, Paget was caught for 22.

Stobbart finished the match off with a thumping back foot drive through the covers.