BOTTOM club Malmesbury defeated a weakened Hatherley & Reddings in their latest Gloucestershire/Wiltshire League Division 1 outing.

Batting first, Malmesbury piled on the pressure with the first wicket yielding 185 runs in 42 overs.

The quicker scoring Chris Hurst was eventually dismissed just one short of his century, while Richard Gaunt, back in opening mode, compiled 74.

The pitch was near perfect for batting, and scoring progressed at seven runs an over for the final 10, Malmesbury reaching 257-4, with Jeremy Newman unbeaten at the close on 37.

Richard Mosdell and Tamal Sarkar opened the bowling, and they took the first three Hatherley wickets.

Mark Lester and Ed Shellard replaced the openers, the latter taking three wickets to leave Hatherley reeling at 55-6.

Lester, at the other end, was bowling tight with only nine runs coming from his six overs.

Nally's resistance was eventually broken when Tamal returned, the opener going for 41, and Hatherley's demise was swift 107 all out in the 47th over with Shellard finishing with figures of 5-30.

Malmesbury are at home again this Saturday, against Bredon, and they will be keen to keep up winning ways to extricate themselves from bottom spot.