Perry leads run feast as Biddestone go top

Undefeated Biddestone visited Nationwide House and restricted the home side to 181 for seven, as Mike Tasker took 4-58 in his 15 overs.

Kevin Flay (46) and Mick Harris (46 not out) were the main run getters for the home side.

In response Biddestone rattled along at over six an over with a fine 102 not out from Dwaine Perry, supported by John Mason (47), which saw them to an eight wicket victory in the 29th over.

Westinghouse inflicted a first defeat of the season on visiting Bath Civil Service. They bowled them out for 99 in 40 overs, Chris Addy making 43 and Matty Dix taking 3-17 and Paul Bailey 4-17. Colin Fry (41 not out) then took Westinghouse to an easy eight wicket win as they scored the required runs in just 20 overs.

At Calne, two of the few sides who have played all their games met when Purton were the visitors.

Calne scored 173-8, with Rob Anstee contributing a solid 81 and Chris Downham adding 32. Purton in reply were 3-3 but a fighting 75 from young wicketkeeper Dave Dunn saw them get tantalisingly close to a second victory. They finally had to give second best as Fred Key took 4-28 and Liann Botes 5-45 and they went down by just seven runs, being bowled out for 166.

Beanacre still seek their first win after losing at home to Collingbourne. The visitors piled on 244-7, thanks to G Khan (73) and Graham Chandler (65). Rob Howard bowled well to take 5-55 in 13 overs. Dave Langfield responded with 5-23 in 15 very accurate overs as Beanacre were all out for 156.

Potterne entertained Burbage and ER and in an exciting, high scoring encounter the visitors gained their first win of the campaign.

Potterne made 221 all out but then John Wheeler (86 not out) and Roger Cope (55) took Burbage to a four wicket success with just two balls to spare.

Division Two

GREAT Bedwyn lost their unbeaten record to visiting Urchfont.

For the visitors Paul Slater (67) and Michael Brooks (78) helped them to 218-7. Bedwyn could never quite match the asking rate and despite George Stone's 54 not out were dismissed for 183 in the 42nd over.

The only remaining undefeated side, Cherhill, visited winless Minety and bowled them out for 152, with Alan Brown (52) and Lorne Kitchen (40) top scoring. Alan Taylor, with 5-20 in 6.3 overs, was the pick of Cherhill's bowlers. Tom Taylor (65 not out) then led Cherhill's reply which took them to a comfortable eight wicket success with 14 overs to spare.

Swindon Civil Service travelled to Buscot Park and bowled their hosts out for just 101 and then proceeded to hit the runs off in 19 overs for the loss of one wicket.

Cooper-Avon Tyres entertained Lechlade and made 168, with Nick Smith taking 4-43 in 12 overs and J.Khan 2-41 in 15. Despite Rich Jory responding with 3-54 in his 15 overs and Steve Rendell taking 2-18 in six, Smith (86) and Andy Bryant (47) saw Lechlade to a narrow two wicket win from the first ball of the penultimate over.

Sutton Veny gained their first victory at the expense of visiting Highworth who are still seeking their first success.

Despite 65 from Vijay Highworth were restricted to 138-9 in their allotted overs by some steady Sutton Veny bowling. This was followed by some rapid scoring from Andy Frost (57) and Alex Tennant (71 not out) which saw Seagry knock off the runs in 21.3 overs for the loss of just one wicket.

Division Three

ALTHOUGH it is early days in the season, this division is already following the course it followed last year as being the closest fought of them all.

Wanborough gained their first success as they beat their hosts Bathford by six wickets. Bathford were restricted to 129-9 with Paul Merrett making 27 and Matthew Watts 31 as Andy Clinning took 3-28 in 13 overs and Alan Fraser 3-52 in 10.

Despite Watts then taking 2-24 in 13 overs it was Phil Ball (32) and Nick Stacey (29 not out) who saw Wanborough home with eight overs remaining.

Wroughton Wranglers went down to their first defeat, by 19 runs, in a high scoring encounter at Seagry. Adam Lawrence (94) and Kevin Fraser (41) helped Seagry to 249-7. Then, despite the efforts of Hendy Alleyne (57), John Granger (38) and Mick Netherfold (68), it was Anthony Lewis, with 5-71 in 13.2 overs, who swung the game Seagry's way. He took the last wicket with eight balls remaining to leave Wroughton 230 all out.

Blunsdon gained their first win at the expense of visiting Moredon Royal Oak. Kevin Aubrey (50) and Rob Harrison (36) helped Blunsdon to 192-9, Steve Shankur taking 4-26. Darren Fisher, 5-44, and Heath Gunter, 3-11, then made sure Moredon were never endangering this score as apart from Steve Williams (31) their batsmen offered little support and they were bowled out for 120.

Dauntsey Gentlemen also broke their duck at Spye Park. Colin Edinbrough (44) top scored for them in a total of 171 all out in which John Beal took 2-33 in 15 overs and Phil Allsop 4-51. Paul Andow responded with 5-38 in 11 overs as Spye were bowled out for 106.

Division Four

LAMBOURN and Avebury are already looking serious contenders for the title.

Newly promoted Avebury made it four wins out of four games as they made light work in chasing a target of 231 set by visiting Corsham 3rds. In a score of 230-4 John Gale (70) and Chris Simpkins (56 not out) were the made run getters. In response Henry Fry made a fine 103 not out and Greg Dix added 69 as Avebury got home with eight overs to spare.

Lambourn bowled hosts Westbury 3rds out for 107, with Paul Annetts, 5-28, doing most of the damage.

With 30s from Ian Hobbs, Dave Bowsher and Ray Bowsher, Lambourn had little trouble in gaining an eight wicket win after 25 overs.

Mildenhall are seeking a first win after being shot out for their lowest ever league score of 38 by Wilcot.

Wilcot had been restricted to 131-8, Simon Unitt top scoring with 41. Then Martin Cook, 2-8 in four overs, and a fine spell of 7-14 in 10 from Graham Smith did the damage in just 19 overs.

Division Five

EARLY pacesetters in what looks like another close division are Buscot Park and Burbage and ER 2nds.

Buscot lost for the first time at United Churches who chalked up their first success.

James Hill (86) and Adam Rumbold (50) saw Churches to 241-8 and their bowlers then restricted Buscot to 175-8 in reply.

Burbage entertained Devizes 3rds and were dismissed for 158, with Toby Mitchell making 54 and Keith Mitchell and James Wheeler adding 43 for the last wicket.

Bob Cady then took 3-21 in eight overs as only Rich Read (22) and Chris Conway (21) offered much resistance as Devizes were bowled out for 103 in 39 overs.

Lavington registered their first win at the expense of visitors Keevil. Mark Hulse (80), John Wiltshire (41) and Tim Hughes (28) helped Lavington to 221-6, Kelvin Lockwood, 3-66, and Dick Waylen, 3-65, taking the wickets. Lockwood then made a fine 94 but only Paul Fennell (28) gave him much assistance as Keevil were restricted to 154-9 in their reply

John Amor, with 5-32, did most of the damage.

Litten Tree won for the first time, their victims being Purton 2nds. Steady batting had helped Purton to 172-9 but it was a match winning stand of 114 between Kevin Crook (57) and Colin Blake (56) which took Litten Tree to a six wicket win with three overs in hand. For Purton the wickets were shared between James Brown, 2-24 in 12 overs, and Max Brown, 2-48 in 12.

Chippenham 3rds entertained Nettleton and emerged with a five wicket victory. They bowled their visitors out for 127 of which Nobby Tucker made an invaluable 69. The wickets for Chippenham were shared between Derby Ventnor, with 3-15 in 6.4 overs, Peter Hazelhurst, 2-9 in five, and Tom Bowler, 2-28 in nine.

Ray Bullen (53) and George Sykes (20) then helped Chippenham to their success despite some steady bowling from Mike Tasker, who took 2-29 in 11 overs, and Tom Bleakin, 2-33 in 12, which meant the winning runs only came with an over left.

Division Six

UNDEFEATED sides Biddestone 2nds and Nationwide House 2nds met at Biddestone with the result going Biddestone's way by just five runs.

Biddestone made 173 all out and Nationwide's last wicket fell at 168 with nine balls remaining.

Trowbridge A picked up their first win of the season at the expense of visiting Westinghouse 2nds. Trowbridge made 202-9 with John Haines, 3-55 in 14 overs, and Chris Penfold, 3-30 in eight being the pick of the visitors' bowlers. Mike Day (40) then top scored in the Westinghouse response of 174-9.

All Cannings are now the only team in the Division yet to win. In a close fought contest, they bowled out visiting Goatacre 3rds out for 135, of which Andy Donegan scored what was to be a match winning 84 not out. For All Cannings the pick of their bowlers were Rob McGowan, with 3-32 in 15 overs, and Rich Hillman, 2-31 in 13. Richard Sykes then made a patient 43 but Donegan, with 4-41 in 15 overs, and Chris Stylovski, 3-19 in 15, helped dismiss the home side for 117.

Wootton Bassett 3rds scored 203-2 at home to Cooper-Avon Tyres 2nds, thanks to John Millington (91 not out) and Garry Williamson 43. With Gareth Anslow taking 4-44, which included a hat-trick, they then bowled their visitors out for 187 in which John Woodward top scored with 59.

Lacock did well to make 221-6 at home to Calne 2nds, being indebted to Nick Church, whose 53 came in the last ten overs of their innings. Calne lost early wickets but solid later batting helped them to 195-7. Church completed a good day's work as he took 4-39 in his 15 overs.

Division Seven

BRADFORD and Cherhill 2nds are the early pace setters, both undefeated with four wins and one cancellation apiece.

Cherhill inflicted the first defeat of the season on their visitors, Beehive Bradford. Cherhill scored 201-9, thanks to Steve Hutchison (57), Malcolm Parrack (51) and Ricky Riccalton (43). For the visitors, Lea Hambley bowled well in taking 5-49 in 15 overs. Despite the efforts of Pat Godfrey (40) and Mike Reeves (39) Beehive then fell 15 runs short of their target as they were dismissed for 187 in the 43rd over. Paul Andrews, with 2-36 in 12 overs, and Tim Carpenter, 4-61 in 15, did most of the damage.

Bath Civil Service 2nds gained their first success as they defeated United Churches 2nds, who have yet to win. Churches batted well to make 200-4 with Mike Offer (43), Chris Sharp (35), Dave Martin (29 not out) and Peter Walker (29 not out) the main contributors. In reply, it was runs from Adrian Jefferey (56), Nick Clifford (40) and Sam Harris (36 not out) which saw the Bath side to victory by three wickets. For Churches Mike Grattan had 3-45 in 8 overs.

At Marshfield Rob Iles (27), John Clegg (32) and Mathew Roper (40) helped the home team to 145 all out against Beanacre 2nds. Dave Wharton then took 4-22 in 10 overs as the visitors were bowled out for 117.

Dauntsey Gentlemen 2nds maintained their good start to the season with a 45 run home win against Potterne 2nds. Mel Cammish (46), Garry Sloman (29 not out) and Bob Kendrick (26 not out) helped them to 140-5 against some steady bowling; with John Vaze taking 3-45 in his 15 overs. Neil Webb then made 35 for Potterne but Dave Dellend, 7-21 in 15 overs, and Cammish, 3-31 in 10.4, bowled them out for 95 with eight balls left.

Division Eight

CORSHAM 4ths are the only undefeated team following their 94 run home win against Bathford 2nds.

Phil Davis (61) and Mathew Unwin (35) helped them to 168 all out, Mat Hewitt taking 4-46. Mark Hick then took 6-13 as Bathford managed only 74 all out in reply.

Blunsdon 2nds lost for the first time as hosts Collingbourne 2nds posted their highest ever league total with a score of 271-3. This was due mainly to Dave Cummins (74), Dave Gale (70) and Geoff Rogers (41).

John Aitkin took 3-29 in eight overs but it was a spell of 7-12 in 6.1 overs from Richard Kimber; which included a hat-trick in a spell of four wickets in five balls that really did the damage as Blunsdon subsided to 83 all out.

Devizes 4ths still seek that elusive first victory, after going down to visiting Biddestone 3rds by 132 runs. For Biddestone, Kevin Mitchell (77 not out) and Aaron Pearce (39) led the way to a total of 236-8. Fifteen-year-old Mat Pearce, with 4-29 in 10 overs, was the pick of the Devizes attack. His father Graham then top scored with 50 in the Devizes reply of 104 all out, Nick Hudson, with a burst of 4-20 in 4.2 overs, doing the damage.

All Cannings 2nds are also still without a win after a three wicket defeat at Swindon 4ths. from Guy Perrett junior made 40 which was the main contribution in an All Cannings' total of 103 all out. For Swindon the damage was done by two of their young bowlers, under 15s Peter Sharp, with 4-21, and under 14s Richard Barratt, with 3-19. Guy Perrett senior then took 3-20, but skipper Kevin Thompson (45) saw Swindon home.

At Highworth, the home side's 2nds were dismissed for 121 as Mat Seuter, Tom Summers and Garry Arthur each made 26 against Chippenham 4ths. The visitors then went on to an easy eight wicket victory.