A BAD case of dropsy did for Wootton Bassett against high-flying Urchfont in Division One, as eight catches were spilled in their 14-run defeat at Rylands Way.

Skipper Darren Beasant, not involved due to illness but watching from the boundary, was frustrated by a succession of missed chances as the visitors inched their way to 176 before dismissing their hosts for 162.

Marlon Simmons posted a run-a-ball 70 for Urchfont, while Patrick Bromley hit 47 – and both were given reprieves by the Bassett fielders early in their innings.

Beasant said: “A couple of them were very tough, a couple were tough-ish and a few of them weren’t very hard at all.

“Whenever you drop eight catches you’re going to make life harder than it should have been.’’

Malmesbury’s improving form was halted as they slipped to a 39-run defeat at the hands of Bradford on Avon.

After winning the toss and batting, Bradford started well as Ian Pinchen (68) and James Edwards (33) posted an opening partnership of 92 by the 20th over before James Pike’s quickfire 32 in a partnership of 60 with Pinchen.

Despite losing five wickets in six overs, Bradford went past the 200 mark thanks to debutant Rory Trevest and Matt Harrington, who then took 4-19 to help restrict the Malmesbury reply.

Dean Bird (1-46) and Nick Gerrish (3-19) helped wrap up the triumph, despite 69 from James Gillespie and 49 from Robert Gillespie.

Swindon Nalgo heaped more pain on rock-bottom Spye Park, Sanjay Chauhan scoring 46 in their 192-5 before Latif Hussain took 5-37 as Park were all out for 155, despite 74 from Andy Ellis.

Beanacre & Melksham won the toss and bowled against Hinton Charterhouse, a decision that was justified as brothers Rich and Matt Hemmings made life difficult early on.

The introduction of Ben Brown (6-32) resulted in a flurry of wickets as he bowled with pace and accuracy, only a last-wicket partnership of 31 between C Burwell (29*) and G Tanner (24) enabling Hinton to reach 119.

Beanacre’s innings got off to a steady start and the 3rd wicket partnership of Matt Hunt (28*) & Brown (45*) saw the visitors home for a comfortable eight-wicket win.

Akarshit Gomel may have hogged the limelight with a match-winning 148 and figures of 5-20 for Purton against Swindon Civil Service but his skipper, Elliot Hill, was quick to dish out the praise to opening partner Elijah Samuel after his side’s 183-run victory.

Samuel, a Wiltshire U14 batsman, opened the innings with Gomel in just his second outing for the Purton first-string and contributed 35 in a stand of 72 with the India U19 international.

It helped the hosts post 271-8 from their 45 overs before skittling their guests for just 88.

Hill said: “He (Samuel) opened the batting and really impressed with the bat.

“It was great to see him come off disappointed and I’m sure he learnt something from Akki and the way he went on to construct his innings before getting out in the final overs.”

Division Two

BOX marched on at the top, their 66-run victory over Lacock being their ninth from nine league matches this summer.

Knocks of 55 from Rich Foley, 44 from Dave Crawford and and unbeaten 31 from Jess Richman took the villagers to 191-7 off 45 overs.

Lacock were all out for 125 as David Sanchez took 5-29.

Collingbourne claimed the victory from their clash with Keevil, were were bowled out for 171 in 44.5 overs. Tom Pike took 2-27.

Unbeaten innings of 65 and 61 for Ian Smith and Ian Kiy respectively, saw Colling-bourne to their target for the loss of just one wicket in 27.2 overs.

Jordan Welsby’s hat-trick helped Westinghouse to their second league win of the season, a 14-run triumph over Corsham 3rd.

Westinghouse were all out for 105 in 45 overs, Alex Williams scoring 45 but led by Welsby, who took 4-20, they fought back to dismiss Corsham for just 91, Andy Day taking 4-29.

Division 4

WOOTTON Bassett 2nd remain in control at the top after a 73-run success over Ramsbury.

Stefan Tyrie made 56 in their 162 all out from 44.2 overs, before Mark Lazenby took 5-19 as Ramsbury were out for 89 in the 35th over.

Winning the toss and electing to field, Gary Ings and Jack Footner got Beanacre & Melksham 2nd off to a great start, restricting Malmesbury 2nd to 28- 2 off ten overs.

But it was when Chris Long came into the attack that the home side took a stranglehold on the game, Long finishing with figures of 5-8 from 8.3 overs as Malmesbury were bowled  out for 89.

In reply, Beanacre looked to have a bit of a wobble at 33- 2 as James Pickering took a couple of early wickets.

But then AJ Hobbs (28) and Joe Hutchinson (36*) started to take control, hitting regular boundaries, until with a couple of runs required Hobbs was dismissed in bizarre fashion, somehow kicking the ball onto his stumps from well outside leg stump.

Beanacre reached the required target inside 17 overs.

Division 5

BRADFORD on Avon 2nd lost out by five wickets in their clash against Buscot Park.

Bradford scored a respectable 183-7 from their 45 overs, Tony Burrows top scoring with 46 and Jon Moss 932), Darren Jones (31) and Danny Hall (27) making up the bulk of the runs.

Duncan Clarke (3-53) and Namat Jabakhail (2-15) were the pick of the bowlers.

Buscot got home thanks in no small part to an unbroken partnership of 66 between Rob Able (49*) and Andy Morbey (18*). Hamish Millar (37) and Jabakhail (21) also helped, Matt Goodall (3-35) excelling with the ball for Bradford.

Division 7

FOR the second time this summer, two Winsley 3rd batsmen made centuries.

Against Westbury 3rd at Bratton, Ged Roddy led the way with an unbeaten 130, his first century since his youth in the Lancashire leagues.

His triumph was matched by 16-year-old debutant Ben Edwards, who came in at 95-1 and cracked a carefree 102 not out in just 71 balls, taking Winsley to an imposing 285-1.

In reply, Phil Mead hit a patient 52, but Westbury were all out for 134 in 41 overs.

Rich Alsop took three wickets for eight runs while Jim Burn, wearing the wicketkeeping gloves for the first time ever, held four good catches.

Marshfield 3rd lost wickets regularly against Burbage & Easton Royal 3rd and ended at 121 all out, with Luke Flippance taking 4-26.

The loss of both openers stalled Burbage’s early progress but an excellent 57 from Russ Buck appeared to be rescuing them.

Buck, however, was one of Mark Dixon’s five victims, as his team subsided to 99 all out.

WILTSHIRE LEAGUE REPORTS & PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES