MALMESBURY boosted their chances of Gloucester and Wiltshire Division One survival with a 153-run success against a weakened Hatherley and Reddings side on Saturday 27 July.

The difference between the sides was evident as soon as the hosts batted, with first wicket producing 185 runs in 42 overs.

The quicker-scoring Chris Hurst was out bowled playing back to his first real misjudgement of length, and fell one short of his century on 99.

Fellow opener Richard Gaunt was almost circumspect by his standards, but the care taken not to lose wickets paid handsome dividends in his 74.

Scoring progressed at seven runs an over for the final ten overs and the tea break came with an impressive total of 257 for four posted.

Jeremy Newman with 37 not out was the pick of the other batsmen, but both James Pearce-Smith and Ian Gould forced the pace.

Richard Mosdell and Tamal Sarkar opened the bowling, and the skipper who produced the first wicket before Tamal took his first two wickets for the club with full-length inswinging deliveries.

Mark Lester and Ed Shellard replaced the openers, and the latter bowled two batsmen and then had another lbw to leave Hatherley reeling at 55 for six. Mark Lester produced six tight overs before Tamal accounted for the longstanding opener Nally for 41.

Shellard returned alongside fellow spinner Richard Gaunt and finished with best bowling figures of five for 30 as the away side were dismissed for 104.

Malmesbury will be looking to close the gap on their fellow strugglers when they play host to Bredon on Saturday.