Avebury crumble to surprise first defeat

There was also the biggest winning run chase and a number of leading sides suffering defeat.

Division One

LEADERS Calne and Collingbourne both won to consolidate their positions.

Calne were at Potterne and held them to 164 for nine, with Steve Fortune (40) and Gareth Jones (34) top scoring as Liann Botes took four for 39 in 12 overs and Chris Downham four for 43 in 12. Botes (49 not out) and Lee Sheppard (53) then helped Calne to a comfortable eight wicket win.

Collingbourne entertained Purton and restricted them to 168 for six, with Mark Gardener top scoring with 69. A fine 126 not out from Ghayas Khan then eased Collingbourne to a easy eight wicket success with 14 overs to spare.

At Bath Civil Service visiting Biddestone scored 186 for nine, thanks to the prolific Dwayne Perry (107) supported by Alan Low (34). Paul Wood took four for 57 in 15 overs. The Civil Service were well placed at 85 for no wicket in 22 overs, but then Gordon Bedwell, six for 19 in 14.2 overs, and Alan Muench, four for 25 in 10, saw them bowled out for 117 in 39 overs.

Division Two

LEADERS Swindon Civil Service had their lead cut when they lost at home to fourth place Cherhill.

Paul Taylor took four for 28 in six overs as Civil Service were bowled out for 182. John Candy (64 not out) and Mark Gresham (79 not out) then steered Cherhill to an eight wicket victory.

What is believed to be the biggest successful run chase came at Urchfont. On a superb pitch the home side amassed 279 for six, thanks to Michael Brookes (123) and Paul Wylie (76).

Visiting Lechlade found this no problem as with Nick Smith making 124 not out and Adam Pettifer 113 they strolled to a nine wicket win with five overs to spare.

Sutton Veny entertained Great Bedwyn and scored 158 for eight, with Alex Tennant (61) top scoring. In reply Nick Maycock (75) and Chris Blundy (36) steered Bedwyn to a six wicket win in the 39th over.

Lowly Cooper-Avon Tyres scored 247 all out at home to Buscot Park, thanks to Derek Wilde (81) and Ansuman (84). Chris White took four for 59 in 15 overs for Buscot. Then, despite the efforts of Nick Cook (59 not out), Ronny Fernandez (42) and Hamish Millar (39), Buscot Park fell 15 runs short of victory on 233 for seven to give their hosts a welcome win.

Division Three

THE shock result in this Division was the defeat of leaders Wroughton Wranglers at bottom placed Wanborough.

Wanborough scored 198 for four, with major contributions from Paul Sore (65), Nick Stacey (32) and Mike Clarke (45 not out). Andy Thomson then took four for 45 and Russell Wilson three for 60 as Wroughton were dismissed for 180 with eight balls remaining, despite a spirited 103 from Hendy Alleyne.

This defeat drops Wroughton down to third as in a very competitive division they were overtaken by Spye Park and Seagry.

Spye Park restricted visiting Heytesbury to 158 for eight, with Justin Wagstaff making 38 and Mike Baxter 37 as Tom Harding took three for 35 in 11 overs and John Beal one for 37 in 15 tight overs. They were well supported by wicketkeeper Andy Ellis, who picked up six catches. At 85 for seven, Rob Barnes having taken two for 33 in his 15 overs, Spye were in trouble, but Harding (54 not out) and Beal (29 not out) shared an unbroken eight wicket stand of 77 to see then to a three wicket victory with 16 balls remaining.

Swindon 3rds picked up a valuable win at the expense of midtable Moredon Royal Oak. Mike Gumm (44) and Ben Sawyer (42) helped Swindon to 217 for seven, Steve French four for 49 in 15 overs. Steady bowling then restricted Moredon's reply to 161 for six as Mo Farooq top scored with 37. Neil Phipps, two for 42 in 15 overs, and Paul McDonald, two for 37 in 13, applied the brakes.

At Blunsdon visiting Bathford were indebted to Paul Merrett's 92 and Hugh Ackland 47 as they totalled 209 for seven, despite Darren Fisher taking six for 37 in 15 overs. Blunsdon were then dismissed for 159, Martin Gale taking five for 39.

At Dauntsey Gentlemen, Sam Kingsbury 37 top scored in their 162 for nine against Seagry, with William Tidmarsh taking four for 43 in 15 overs and Daniel Porter three for 38 in 11 for the visitors. Craig Edenboro responded with five for 35 in 13.3 overs and with Nick Marshall taking four for 32 in 10 Seagry were bowled out for 135, Paul Lewis top scoring with 30.

Division Four

BOTTOM of the table Mildenhall gained their first win of the season against fellow strugglers Westbury 3rds.

A fine 82 by Andrew Von Kimmelman helped Mildenhall to 168 for eight, Colin Ayton, with four for 23 in nine overs being the most successful of the Westbury bowlers. Lionel Coles then took six for 19 in 13.5 overs and with Ian Pathania taking three for 36 in 15 Westbury bowled out for 115, Phil Mead (32) top scoring.

Bigger surprises were the defeats of Avebury, their first, and Lambourn.

Avebury were bowled out for their lowest league score of 113 at Coates, Mark Robbins taking five for 56 in 15 overs as Henry Fry (52) top scored. Useful knocks from Paul Deverell (30), James Crane (23 not out) and Simon Richards (27) then steered Coates to a five wicket win despite an accurate spell of three for 27 in 15 overs from Dominic Fry.

At Corsham, visiting Lambourn made 167 for eight, with Ian Hobbs (43) top scoring as Martin Hick took five for 51 in 12 overs. Solid batting then saw Corsham home by three wickets with an over to spare.

Bradford Town consolidated their third place with an easy eight wicket victory at Wilcot.

Division Five

SWINDON Litten Tree take over at the top after their sixth consecutive win.

They bowled out visiting Devizes 3rds for 97 with Julian Brown taking four for 38 in 12 overs and Kevin Crook two for three and Chris Conway (38) top scoring for Devizes. Crook (49 not out), with support from Rob Mercer, then steered Litten Tree to an eight wicket win.

Buscot Park 2nds' slump continued as they surrendered the lead when they lost at home to Keevil, who moved up to second. In a close game, Keevil scored 186 for six, thanks to Paul Fennell (64), Paul Jones (54) and Mat Hall (33 not out). Willy Townsend took three for 40 in his 15 overs for Buscot. In a tight finish the home side were finally bowled out for 183 off the penultimate ball. Neil Phillips (62) and Colin Pratt (30) helped Buscot to get so close as Richard Waylen took three for 58 in 15 overs.

United Churches gained a welcome win at Chippenham 3rds. Chippenham were bowled out for 112, Chris Day (24) top scoring as Dave Bamford took five for 35 in 15 overs. Alan Foster (40 not out) and Richard Tong (32 not out) then steered Churches to a seven wicket win after Joe Haines had taken two for 21 in six overs.

Burbage and ER 2nds' poor run continued as they lost by 18 runs at Nettleton. The home side made 140 all out with Nobby Tucker (34) and Ian Witt (27) top scoring as Dan Swatton took three for 27 and Roger Cope three for 15. Despite Swatton's 29 and Cope's 25 Burbage were then dismissed for 122, with Alan Cousins taking three for 29.

Purton 2nds made 192 for five at home to Lavington, with Mike Booth (51) top scoring. Tom Hughes then made 80 but he lacked support as Mark Collier took four for 35 and Lavington were bowled out for 170.

Division Six

LEADERS Biddestone 2nds and Nationwide House 2nds both won to extend their lead as the bottom two, Cooper-Avon Tyres 2nds and Goatacre 3rds picked up surprise wins.

Biddestone scored 228 for seven at home to Trowbridge A, with Peter Talbot (77) top scoring. Trowbridge A were then bowled out for 106.

All Cannings made a useful 189 for five at Nationwide, with useful contributions from Richard Holman (56) and Richard Mansell (78). Kevin Bills then took four for 54 in 11.1 overs but Fred Roofe (51 not out) helped Nationwide to a narrow two wicket victory.

Bottom of the table Cooper-Avon scored 194 all out at Westinghouse 2nds, with Paul Grace taking four for 42 in 15 overs and Adrian Day four for 40 in 14.1. Westinghouse were then bowled out for 124, Chris Grace top scoring with 40.

At Calne 2nds visiting Goatacre amassed 229 for four, thanks mainly to Jamie Butler (75) and Andy Donnegan (79 not out). Shaun Preen then took five for 14 in 7.1 overs as Calne collapsed to 90 all out.

Lacock's good run continued as they surprised visiting Wootton Bassett 3rds, beating them by 18 runs. For Lacock John Heath (64 not out) and Barry Harding (53) scored the bulk of their 167 all out. Clive Harding then took five for five in 6.5 overs as despite 62 from Adam Guest and 31 from Tom Fisher, Bassett were bowled out for 149.

Division Seven

PERHAPS the biggest shock of the day came at unbeaten Bradford Town 2nds, where visiting Potterne 2nds put an end to their run.

In a low scoring game Andy Brudenhall's 29 was top scorer for Potterne in their 123 all out. For Bradford the Edwards clan did the damage, Ben Edwards taking four for 31 in 11 overs and Dave Edwards five for 15 in 9.1. Bradford then collapsed to their lowest ever league score of just 37 as Andy Hillier took five for19 in nine overs and Brendan Baker five for 17 in 8.1.

This defeat allowed Beehive Bradford to close the gap as they gained a six wicket home success against Dauntsey Gentlemen 2nds. They bowled Dauntsey out for 77, Les Walters (26) top scoring and then reached their target for four wickets, as David Burke took two for 34 in 8.2 overs and Garry Mitchell two for 17 in five.

United Churches 2nds still seek their first win after a home defeat at the hands of lowly Beanacre 2nds.

Third-placed Cherhill 2nds kept the pressure on the top two following their seven wicket home win against Bath Civil Service 2nds. Civil Service were bowled out for 131 despite a fine 82 not out by Dan Pitter. Malcolm Parrack took three for 33 in 15 overs and Steve Hutchins three for 22 in eight. Dave Hewings (43), Parrack (26 not out) and Hutchins (34) then saw Cherhill home with eight overs to spare.

Division Eight

COLLINGBOURNE 2nds visited Swindon 4ths and scored 203 for seven, with the major scores coming from Mat Nicholls (59), Steve Knight (42) and 50 extras.

Steve Cole took four for 47 for Swindon. Nicholls then took four for 39 in 14.3 overs as despite 70 from Gareth Jones, Swindon were bowled out for 157.

At Bathford Matt Watts took four for eight and Ian Waller three for 11 as visiting Blunsdon 2nds crashed to 43 all out, Tim Asprey making an unbeaten 22. Asprey then took four for 19 before Bathford reached their target.

The highest individual score so far this season came at Biddestone where Chris Brazeley hit a fine 147, the highest individual score for Biddestone 3rds as they reached their highest league total of 272 for seven against Highworth 2nds.

Highworth were never up with the asking rate but Simon Green (71 not out) and Garry Arthur (34) saw them to 178 for five.

At All Cannings 2nds, Mat Nicholls (59) helped visiting Chippenham 4ths to 112 all out as Ian Perrett took three for seven in five overs and Steve Duffy two for nine in five. Andy Plank (29 not out) then helped All Cannings to a five wicket win as John Vince took three for 21.