WILTSHIRE under 15s had the better of their game against Berkshire at the County Ground, but the visitors clung on for a draw.
Batting first, Wiltshire were all out for 172, with Chippenham's Adam Croutear (38) and Luke Morris (41) top-scoring.
In reply, Berkshire raced to 51-1 at tea, but wickets fell at regular intervals afterwards and they struggled to 109-9 at the close.
Spinners Eddie Abel (2-18 in 18 overs) and West Swindon's Tom Bowler (3-32 in 18) were the pick of the home bowlers.
n Swindon, sponsored by The Ridgeway Hospital, met Chippenham in the county final of the Portman Building Society under-15 national club championship.
The match was played at Chippenham on a wicket which gave a lot of assistance to the home team's four spinners and this proved crucial in deciding the outcome of the match.
Chippenham won the toss and put Swindon in. Captain Marc Williamson and Dom O'Neill got the innings off to a great start with Williamson pulling the second ball of the first over to the boundary for four.
Runs continued to flow against the seamers but when spin was introduced batting became more tricky and the first wicket fell in the ninth over, which Swindon finished on 50-1.
This brought in Craig Taylor, who played and missed at his first ball, and was given out stumped even though the keeper had clearly dropped the ball and already apologised to his bowler for doing so.
Unfortunately the square leg umpire was unsighted and failed to realise that was what had happened.
Understandably Chippenham were delighted and Swindon shocked and thereafter the batsmen lost their focus against some excellent spin bowling, folding to 71 all out, which included five stumpings.
Left arm spinner Liam Dawson, recruited from Goatacre and now on Hampshire's books, finished with 4-4.
With such a low total off their allotted 20 overs the Swindon bowlers had their work cut out.
O'Neill struggled and was well below full pace, but Taylor gave Swindon brief hope with a sharp caught and bowled in the first over.
However this brought in Croutear, who is being coached by Gloucestershire. He took full advantage of every loose ball, scoring 32 of 37in his stand with Tim Rowson.
A stunning catch by Ben Turner ended his innings, but then Bowler joined Rowson and the Chippenham representatives cantered to an eight-wicket victory in the 13th over. They go on to the next round against the Somerset champions.
Swindon finished as runners-up for the second year in a row and were disappointed at being below par on the day.
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