In-form batsmen set a daunting challenge

Thanks to Mark Flay (51), Mat Vincent (91) and Stuart Archer (71 not out), Nationwide posted a daunting target of 261 for three.

Dave Thwaites followed up with five for 48 in his 15 overs and despite 61 from Barry Langfield, Collingbourne were restricted to 190 for eight in their reply.

Purton visited Bath Civil Service and lost by three wickets. Thanks to a ninth wicket partnership of 57 between Mark Gardener (85) and tailender Rob Preddy (16 not out), Purton ended on 146 for nine. Despite the efforts of Steve Gunn, with five for 37 in 13 overs, Chris Addey (53), saw the home team to victory.

Potterne entertained Westinghouse and slumped to 40 for five before Andy Hillier (39) and Fred Kerley (33) inspired a revival which helped them to 182 for nine. Most of the damage was done by John Cleverley, who took five for 41 in 15 overs, assisted by Mat Dix, two for 34 in 15 overs. Pete Bailey (62) and Chris Ferris (58 not out) then paced Westinghouse's reply to see them to a four wicket win with seven balls to spare.

Potterne's Andy Sainsbury bowled well to end with three for 45 in his 15 overs.

Burbage and Easton Royal hosted Biddestone and were bowled out for just 91. Dave Mason (42 not out) and Dave Perry (47 not out) then took Biddestone to an easy nine wicket success in just 14.1 overs.

At Beanacre the home side, thanks mainly to John Adcock (35) closed at 142- for nine against Calne, with Rob Anstee taking three for 38 in 13 overs and Chris Downham three for five in four. Downham followed up with an excellent 88 not out to see Calne home by five wickets with five overs in hand.

Division Two

A SUPERB 134 by Neil Maycock helped Great Bedwyn to 243 for seven at Cooper-Avon Tyres.

Justin Bailey then took four for 40 in 12 overs as the hosts were bowled out for 147.

Highworth struggled for runs at home to Cherhill, and only a patient 32 by Danny Batchelor enabled them to reach 94 all out. For Cherhill Ben Webber, three for four in 3.2 overs, and Alan Eades, three for 31 in 15, did most of the damage. A quick 32 not out from Andy Mortimer then saw Cherhill home by seven wickets in just 17.2 overs.

At Lechlade, thanks to Andy Pettifer (50) and Nick Pearce (43 not out), the home side ended on 202 for six against visiting Minety. The visitors were then dismissed for 107, with John Lutwych (30) and extras (35) top scoring.

At Swindon Civil Service visitors Urchfont made 203 for five, with Nick Brooks making a fine 109 not out and Neil Bateman adding 46. Brooks followed up with four for 44 in 15 overs but this was not enough to prevent Civil Service pulling off an exciting three wicket win with four balls to spare, with major contributions from Shaun Smith (46), Mike Giddings (36) and James Townsend (32).

Division Three

RUNS were not to easy to come by at Spye Park where the home team were bowled out for 137 by visiting Bathford.

Richard Bownter (37) and Charles Rudlow (32) top scored as Mike Watts took five for 20 in 9.2 overs and Dave Watts three for 45 in 13. Dave Coleman responded with a match winning seven for 32 in 11 overs as only Andrew Murray (27) offered much resistance in a Bathford response of 110 all out.

Wroughton Wranglers travelled to Dauntsey Gentlemen and made 160 for seven, with Mike Evans making 33, James Grainger 30 and with Dave Beldham taking three for 38 in 11 overs. Grainger responded with five for 16 in five overs as Dauntsey crashed to their lowest league total of 47 all out.

Seagry made 222 for six at Moredon Royal Oak, thanks to Alex Feeday (116) and Adam Lawrence (60), with Ian Morton taking four for 46 in eight overs for Moredon. A solid 81 from Steve Williams anchored the response, but with Will Tidmarsh taking four for 51 in his 15 overs they fell well short of their target, closing on 152 for seven.

Swindon 3rds visited Wanborough and scored 197 for eight, with Nick Parkinson (73) and Magnus Painter (44) top scoring. The pick of the Wanborough bowlers were Douglas Millington, with four for 58 in 12 overs, and Andy Fraser, three for 34 in 11.

In their reply Wanborough could never quite match the asking rate and closed on 157 for nine, with Paul Sore (40) and Dave Haydon (38) the major contributors and Neil Williamson taking three for 22 in nine overs.

Division Four

AVEBURY carried on from last year's big scores with 256 for six at Wilcot, with Dominic Fry (72) and Greg Dix (60) leading the way.

For Wilcot, Mike Cook bowled well to take four for 43 in 10 overs.

Stubborn batting from Wilcot then prevented Avebury bowling them out. Despite the efforts of Rob Gater, four for 17 in 15 overs, they managed to hang on to end on 111 for eight.

Corsham 3rds at home to Warminster 3rds they made 239 for four, thanks to veteran John Gale (56) and Tom Abbott, a powerful 116. Mark Unwin, five for 47 in 15 overs, and Andy Nicholls, four for 43 in 11.3 overs, then saw Warminster bowled out for 112 with 12 overs to spare.

Division Five

BUSCOT Park 2nds scored 232 for five at home to Devizes 3rds, thanks to Andy Moreby (106 not out) and Ray O'Neil (59).

Ian Mills, three for 11 in five overs, and 13-year-old James Phillips, four for 17 in six overs, then bundled Devizes out for a mere 33.

Steady batting throughout helped Burbage and Easton Royal 2nds to 160 for seven, Bob Cady (23) top scoring. For hosts Chippenham 3rds Steve Dolman took three for 31 in nine overs. Chippenham were bowled out for 101.

Nettleton were restricted to 133 for nine by Lavington, with John Wiltshire taking four for 29 in 11 overs and Pete Bailey three for 21 in seven and Nick Tucker scoring a valuable 59. Paul Tasker then took five for 36 in 14 overs to help Nettleton to a18 run win as they dismissed Lavington for 115.

Purton 2nds scored 200 for four against United Churches, thanks to Dave Allen (99) and Ben Collier (60). James Hill led the reply with 53, but they just failed in their victory bid, losing by 16 runs as they were all out for 184.

Division Six

WESTINGHOUSE 2nds gained a home win against Goatacre 3rds.

Batting first they scored 223 for nine, with Paul Birkenshaw making 92 not out and Chris Grace 26.

For Goatacre, Andy Donnegan took three for 28 and Colin Beattie two for 23 in 15 overs. Only Donnegan (43) then offered much resistance as Goatacre were bowled out for 112.

At Calne, visiting Cooper-Avon Tyres 2nds were dismissed for 119 as the Calne bowlers shared the wickets. Calne went on to an easy nine wicket win thanks to Dave Coward (31), Barry Garland (39 not out), and 14-year-old opener Tom Knight (30 not out).

Nationwide House 2nds entertained Wootton Bassett 3rds and restricted them to 144 for eight. The pick of Nationwide's bowlers was Martin Harman, with two for 28 in nine overs and Andy Lewis, two for 37 in nine. Matt Pryor's (55) then helped them to a five wicket win in the 42nd over.

Biddestone 2nds were bowled out for 128 by visiting All Cannings, with Ken Ryalls the pick of the bowlers. Rob Styles responded with six for 34 in 14.4 overs as, in a tense finish, All Cannings lost their final wicket with two balls remaining and the scores tied.

Division Seven

UNITED Churches 2nds made a useful 177 for nine against Potterne 2nds, with Paul Stevens taking four for 49 in 11 overs. Brendan Baker (68) then helped Potterne to a good seven wicket victory with three overs to spare.

Dauntsey Gentlemen 2nds were bowled out for 92 at Cherhill 2nds, with only Alan Cook (24) offering much resistance as Dave Hewings took three for 22 in 8.4 overs and Tim Carpenter four for 15 in eight overs. Steve Hutchins (33) then helped set up a six wicket win for Cherhill.

Beehive Bradford bowled visiting Marshfield 3rds out for 74, Rob Iles making a valiant 32 as Leroy Hamley took six for 13 in nine overs. Mike Reeves (31 not out) and Mike Spong (26 not out) then saw Beehive home by seven wickets in 14 overs.

Division Eight

IN the meeting of the two new sides at All Cannings, visiting Blunsdon 2nds won by 43 runs.

Blunsdon were bowled out for 118, but then Mike Lancaster took five for 34 in eight overs as All Cannings 2nds managed only 75 all out in reply.

Devizes 4ths came tantalizingly close to their first league win, going down by just five runs to visiting Highworth 2nds.

The visitors made 141 all out, with Steve Green top scoring with 57 as Andy Goodfield took a hat-trick in his theree for 33 in eight overs.

Despite the efforts of Graham Pearce (52) and Clive Conway (30) it was Steve Green, with four for 13 in three overs, and Steve Landis, four for 60 in 15, who paved the way for the visitors' success as Devizes were dismissed for 136.

A high scoring encounter at Biddestone 3rds saw visiting Collingbourne 2nds rattle up 233 for seven, thanks to Steve Knight (55) and Ian Kiy (51 not out). Biddestone fell 15 runs short of victory at 219 for six.

Corsham 4ths hammered hosts Swindon 4ths' bowling for 305 for three declared, thanks to Pete Dennett (100 not out) and Des Simpkins (82). Mike Hicks, with four for nine, then helped sink Swindon for 79 all out.