BIDDESTONE captain Luke Panes has set his sights on trimming the gap to the top of the WEPL Premier Two Glos/Wilts table over the second half of the season after a two-wicket win over county rivals Westbury & District last weekend.

The victory means Panes’ side reach the midway point of the campaign with five wins and four defeats from their nine fixtures, sitting 21 points behind leaders Thornbury down in fourth in the table.

Biddestone host the side immediately above them, Cheltenham, this weekend and Panes is targeting victory to kick off a strong second half to the season.

“We have been a bit up and down this season but there is a lot to be positive about. Three of the four games we have lost have been to the teams above us,” said Panes.

“No one is really running away with the league, so that shows how closely matched the teams are.

“If we beat Cheltenham, we should go above them and it will give us a lot of confidence going forwards.”

Westbury won the toss and elected to bat, where Michael Coles hit a superb 117 to help them post 232 all out, with Tyrone Isitt picking up 4-23 for Biddestone.

When the visitors came to bat, no one scored more than opener Andy Flynn’s 47 but every member of the line-up chipped in to help them reach a winning 235-8 with nine balls to spare.

Panes said: “We got rid of Michael Coles with about 10 overs left and that was really important. If he had batted for much longer, he could have taken the game away from us.

“It was a fast outfield so we thought chasing anything under 250 was achievable. It was a really good win in the end.”

Biddestone’s win has seen them leapfrog Wiltshire rivals Burbage & Easton Royal after they were beaten by 96 runs away at Rockhampton.

Owen Alsop impressed with the ball for Burbage, keeping the hosts in check after they had opted to bat first upon winning the toss.

He claimed 4-58, while Adam Lavis picked up 3-26 to help bowl Rockhampton out for 193 inside 47 overs. Captain Jamie Wakefield top scored for the hosts with 43.

Burbage struggled to settle as they began their reply and six of their top eight batsmen fell before reaching double figures.

Opener Haydon Amor and Alsop were the only players to offer significant resistance, but the threat of Sam Nichols (4-31) and Chris Willoughby (3-28) proved too great as Burbage were eventually dismissed for 97 in the 33rd over of their reply.

Corsham also suffered disappointment on the road as they lost by three wickets at title-chasing Dumbleton.

Tom Foley’s side won the toss and chose to bat, with Andy Davis’ 61 the backbone of their 184 all out in 42 overs as Craig Baldwin and Tom Hage claimed four wickets each for the hosts.

Tom Smith (3-37) attempted to keep the Dumbleton reply in check and Corsham looked well placed after reducing the home side to 59-4 but Tom Clarkson (47) and Robbie Hardwick (36 not out) steadied the ship to see them over the winning line with more than 13 overs to spare, finishing on 187-7.