Trowbridge 188-7 beat Wootton Bassett 138-8 by 50 runs on Saturday.

Trowbridge 2nd XI maintained their 100 per cent record taking them to the top of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Division Two with a comfortable away win at Wootton Bassett.

Put in to bat on a soft wicket, an early catch and a run out left Trowbridge in trouble on 4-2 after five overs. Recovery came in the shape of the left-handed partnership of captain Kevin Sheppard and Trowbridge newcomer Chris Penhaligan.

Penhaligan was caught for 41 after an impressive display of hitting, and was replaced by Mike Solomon who carried on in the same vein. By the time Sheppard was adjudged lbw for a hard-fought 60, the score had moved to 154-4 with seven overs to go.

Trowbridge lost a few lower order wickets towards the end, but gave enough support to allow Solomon to reach an unbeaten half-century in the final over, and take the total to 188-7.

After a rain shower that lasted the exact length of the tea interval, Trowbridge took the field and immediately put the pressure on the Wootton Bassett openers.

Fortunately for Trowbridge the rain held off long enough to guarantee a result.

Ali Hughes obliged for Trowbridge by taking two wickets, finishing with 2-20 from 10 overs; and Steve Hale let loose with the bat for an excellent 42, showing what could have been if Bassett had been more positive from the start.

As it was, they fell short by 50 runs, ending on 138-8.