A DISAPPOINTING performance with bat and ball from Malmesbury at the weekend saw the home team slip to a second league defeat.

Winning the toss and batting first, Malmesbury , shorn of several first team players, started well.

Chris Hurst and Richard Gaunt saw off the distinctly unthreatening opening attack with some ease. Having put on 67, Gaunt, with a careless flip to square leg, was out for 39. Hurst and Dan Horton then took the score past the century mark and at one time Malmesbury were well placed to build an imposing score.

A flurry of seven wickets in as many overs for the addition of only 25 runs left the home side at least 50 short of an acceptable total on a good batting wicket.

When Apperley batted the true easy nature of the pitch became evident and they were never in danger of falling behind the required rate and cruised to a comfortable victory at leisure.

Malmesbury's bowlers never looked very threatening, with too many four balls being bowled.

Malmesbury will be looking to improve their performance this coming weekend with an inaugural visit to Woodmancote.