GREAT Bedwyn have moved to the head of the Division One table in the Wiltshire Cricket League, although Avebury remain level on points after both teams won again at the weekend.
Bedwyn picked up 26 points in their 138-run success at home to Winsley – one more than Avebury were able to manage en route to a seven-wicket win over visitors Beckington.
Neil Maycock (91) and Josh Quinn (57) guided Bedwyn to 250-9 against Winsley, for whom Angus Waight returned figures of 5-48.
Max Andrews was they the star of the show for the hosts with the ball after tea as his 4-18 dismissed Winsley for 112.
Avebury had an excellent opening stand between Sam Underhill (60) and Dominic Fry (52) to thank for their win over Beckington as they chased down the visitors’ score of 161.
Charles Kunje (60) was the backbone of that innings as Fry claimed 5-12 with the ball before he and Underhill led Avebury to a winning 162-3 inside 32 overs.
At the other end of the table, Malmesbury are now at the bottom of the standings after being crushed by eight wickets by visitors Nationwide House.
Malmesbury were restricted to 180 as James Pearce-Smith (52) top scored, and House had little problem chasing that down thanks to centurion Sharad Kumar (104no) and Roger Pettifer (54) leading them to 181-2 with more than six overs to spare.
Swindon 2nd are narrowly above Malmesbury after being felled by five wickets at home by Marlborough.
Steve Laggett (91) and John Baden (56) helped Swindon post 243-7 but Marlborough mounted a successful run chase and reached 247-5 with two balls to spare thanks to the efforts of Nick Crabbe (92), Peter Day (54no) and Ben Head (50).
Finally, a total of 215-5 was enough for Corsham 2nd to beat their Chippenham counterparts on the road as they earned a 23-run victory.
Andy Davis (86) and Luke Curtis (83) led the way with the bat for Corsham, and only Aaron Merryweather (75) was able to make a lasting contribution after tea as Chippenham’s run chase was still on 192-9 after their 45 overs.
Division Two
PREVIOUS leaders Swindon NALGO were stunned by visitors Bear Flat, allowing Burbage & Easton Royal to take over at the summit after they won at Swindon United Churches.
George Ellis took 5-52 as NALGO were bowled out for 184, and Ashwin Agrawal then hit 89 in reply as Bear Flat reached a winning 185-7 in the final over for a three-wicket win.
Despite being restricted to a low score of 119, Burbage still claimed a 48-run victory at United Churches, with Crofton Keyes (4-17) taking over with the ball after tea to skittle the hosts for just 71.
Division Three
BRADFORD on Avon’s title hopes were hurt by a heavy seven-wicket defeat at Swindon 3rd.
Paul Vooght (63) led Bradford to a first-innings total of 209-9 but James Pitman (86no) and Ashley Baden (51) made Swindon’s run chase look a smooth one as they reached 212-3 with 19 balls in hand.
Half-centuries from Matt Loft (56no) and Mark Wiltshire (56) were in vain for Lacock as they lost by one wicket at Chippenham 3rd.
Lacock posted 162-6 but Chippenham were able to chase that down with just one wicket remaining as Tim Knight (51) top scored in their 164-9. Lewis Simmons took 4-45 with the ball for Lacock.
Division Four
MELKSHAM suffered a 41-run defeat away at Marlborough 2nd, for whom Steve Jones hit 91 not out.
Jones and Rob Atkinson (52) led Marlborough to 216-5 and Ravi Teja Rayudu then took 4-32 as Melksham were dismissed for 175-8 despite Jack Footner hitting 88.
Wroughton Wranglers’ game at home to Wanborough was cancelled, as was Royal Wootton Bassett 3rd’s trip to Combe Down.
Division Five
ERLESTOKE surrendered top spot after their run chase at Buscot Park came up just short, losing by six runs.
Park scored 224-7 and Erlestoke had only reached 218-7 at the end of their 45 overs.
Thisara Gedara scored a century for Purton 2nd in their crushing 210-run victory at home to Bathford.
Gedara (111) and Guy Dawson (50) led Purton to a hefty 281-5 before they skittled Bathford for just 71 after tea.
Division Six
BLUNSDON suffered an agonising one-wicket defeat away at Beckington 2nd.
Yadhunandan Thoppay Prabakaran hit 77 in Blunsdon’s 229-9 as Alex Keevil took 4-45 for Beckington.
Mark Finch (76) then spearheaded the hosts’ reply, and despite Phil Jones taking 4-44, Beckington edged over the winning line on 231-9 with two balls to spare.
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