SKIPPER Lee Ward says that Chippenham are confident they can maintain the gap between between themselves and the Glos/Wilts Division drop zone after their second win in three matches last weekend.

Chippenham are now 20 points clear of second-from-bottom Westbury after a four-wicket win over Gloucester City Winget and Ward reckons his team have come into form at the perfect time.

“We’ve made a big thing of our home form, which has been really good in the second half of the season. Two of our last three are away from home, so hopefully we can bring that into those games,” said the Chippenham captain.

“Gloucester beat us quite heavily up at their place earlier this season and it was nice to show them what we can do. We’re confident that we can stay up as long as the weather allows us to play.”

Gloucester batted first after winning the toss, with opener Noah Cooper-Lanes hitting 46, but Richard Bates put the brakes on the visitors as he took 3-26, with Winget dismissed for 160 midway through the 47th over.

Chippenham’s innings got off to a difficult start as their first four wickets fell for just 35 runs but with a reduced target of 95 from 29 overs to hit following a rain delay, Billy Cookson weighed in with a knock of 37 as Ward’s side reached 98-6 in little over 28 overs.

Biddestone had been skittled for 158 before their clash with Rockhampton was abandoned.

Stuart Kingwell hit 63 for Jamie Mitchell’s men.

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