GREAT Bedwyn wrapped up the Division One title in the Wiltshire Cricket League despite suffering defeat on the final day of the season.

Bedwyn travelled into the finale holding an 11-point cushion over Avebury, and despite losing by seven wickets at Nationwide House, their challengers could not take advantage as they fell to a 92-run defeat at Chippenham 2nd.

Batting first at Nationwide, Bedwyn struggled on the day as only Ben Smith (51) reached a half-century as the visitors were bowled out for 143.

That target was revised to 145 off 41 overs after a rain break but the efforts of Jonathan Clarke (75no) meant Nationwide’s run chase was a comfortable one as they reached 147-3 inside 36 overs.

Avebury were also left to rue a poor batting display as they were well beaten at Chippenham to surrender any hopes they had of lifting the title.

Tom Makepeace (70) helped Chippenham reach 165 before they were dismissed and Avebury offered next to no resistance after tea as they were skittled for just 73.

That result allowed Corsham 2nd to finish as runners-up in the top tier following a dominant 112-run success at home to bottom side Malmesbury, inspired by Luke Curtis’ unbeaten century.

Curtis (122no) and Ed Vickery (56) led Corsham to a hefty total of 272-5 and Malmesbury could only make their way to 160-8 in reply as Toby Kershaw (60) top scored.

Marlborough have finished second bottom after a three-wicket defeat at home to Winsley.

With the game reduced to 42 overs per side, Dan Call’s 4-24 restricted Marlborough to 121-9 before Winsley eased to 125-7 after tea with three overs to spare despite Paul Smith taking 4-27.

Beckington’s Charles Kunje scored a century in the final top-flight fixture to help his side to a 22-run success at Swindon 2nd.

Kunje (114no), Charlie Rustell (72) and Joe Weare (59) all made hefty contributions as Beckington hit 285-4.

Arthur Hayes (4-34) then took over with the ball after tea as Swindon could only reach 263-9 in reply despite the best efforts of Tomas Foreman (70) and Sam Giddings (62).

Division Two

THERE was also a final-day defeat for the leaders of the second tier, Burbage & Easton Royal 2nd, but they had already done enough to seal the title.

Swindon NALGO’s Husain Kanchwala took 5-20 to bowl Burbage out for 111 and set up a six-wicket win for his side – a result that saw them finish as runners-up.

After rain, NALGO saw their target revised to 97 off 39 overs, and that proved no trouble at all as they raced to 101-4 inside 17 overs.

Tom Burford’s five-wicket haul set Swindon United Churches on their way to a nine-wicket win at Warminster 2nd.

Burford took 5-24 to help bowl Warminster out for 133 and Stefan Bartlett hit an unbeaten 65 after tea to guide Churches to a winning 138-1.

Division Three

BRADFORD on Avon assured themselves of a runners-up finish behind champions Trowbridge 2nd with a three-wicket win at home to Keevil.

Batting first, Keevil were bowled out for 175, and Tony Burrows (53no) provided the backbone for Bradford’s reply as they edged their way to 176-7.

Champions Trowbridge signed off the campaign with a 71-run success at Heytesbury & Sutton Veny, courtesy of Jake Paxton’s five-wicket haul.

Trowbridge hit 209-9 and Paxton (5-29) removed all of the top five in the Heytesbury batting order in reply as they mustered just 133 before being dismissed.

Division Four

MELKSHAM avoided a bottom-two finish despite a four-wicket defeat at Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd in their season finale.

Opener Thomas Wallis hit 75 but did not receive much support as Navjot Chahal’s figures of 4-34 saw Melksham make 193-9.

A rain break saw Bassett’s target revised to 159 off 37 overs, and they reached it with just two balls to spare as they hit 160-6, with Chahal again leading the way with an unbeaten 50.

Wroughton Wranglers forfeited their final fixture away at Devizes 2nd – a decision that handed their opponents enough points to clinch the title.

Division Five

HINTON Charterhouse 2nd rubber-stamped their championship success with a three-wicket win away at Erlestoke.

Joe Dorgan (65) and Felix Plant (63no) helped Erlestoke post 219-9 but Charterhouse edged over the winning line on 220-7 with 17 balls to spare thanks to Giles White’s top score of 57.

Division Six

A SEVEN-WICKET defeat for Blunsdon at home to Burbage & Easton Royal 3rd confirmed their bottom-two finish.

Blunsdon were bowled out for 113 and Burbage eased to a winning 116-3 after tea inside 23 overs.

Champions Winsley 2nd brought the curtain down on their campaign with a 61-run win at home to Wilcot.

Division Seven

CHRISTIAN Malford claimed a 56-run success at home to Lacock 2nd to wrap up the title.

Division Eight

CALNE 2nd finished the job in their championship challenge with a four-wicket win at home to Potterne 4th.

Division Nine

THE leading drama on the final day of the season came in a bottom tier as Winsley 3rd’s 82-success away at Devizes 3rd saw them usurp their opponents at the top of the title and be crowned champions by a single point.