FOUR wickets from Ben McGowan helped blitz Royal Wootton Bassett and secure Devizes a thumping 127-run win on the road on Saturday.

Devizes skipper Tom Grant won the toss and chose to bat, and his 53 - alongside James Dunford’s 55 - saw the visitors reach 240 before being bowled out. Charanveer Chahal (3-49) was the pick of the Bassett attack.

McGowan then ripped through the Bassett batting order as they began their reply and his 4-19 saw them dismissed for just 113. Jack Twine was the only home batsman to offer any resistance with 57.

Skipper Grant said: "We got up towards 250 with the bat and I would always back us to defend that. It was a good performance all round.

"Ben bowled really well. A few of the Bassett batsmen played some poor shots but Ben controlled the ball really well.

"It was nice to set up the win with the bat in the first innings. We have had a few problems in that department this season but in the last two games, we have scored over 200 both times, so hopefully we have turned a bit of a corner there.

"We have had a few problems with availability this season and haven't been able to put the same team out regularly but hopefully we can go on a bit of a run into the second half of the season."

Elsewhere, Chippenham were able to trim the gap to league leaders Warminster following a shock first defeat of the summer for the table toppers at home to Purton.

Chippenham were seven-wicket winners away at Calne themselves and are now 24 points off the summit.

Steve Silk’s side won the toss and opted to field, promptly bowling out Calne for 174 inside 45 overs.

Richards Bates led the attack with three wickets, while opener Jerron John’s 51 was the top score amongst the hosts’ batting line-up.

Chippenham made a confident start in reply and the efforts of Pete Ross (41) saw them pass 100 for the loss of just two wickets, before a strong unbroken third-wicket stand between Nick Harrison (37 not out) and captain Silk (31 not out) saw them home with more than 13 overs to spare, finishing on 175-3.

Third-placed Marlborough were unable to capitalise, however, as they were beaten by 65 runs at Swindon.

Chris Aubrey’s 93 and 60 not out from Conor Taylor guided Swindon to 275-5 off their 50 overs.

Calum Burnstone (113) made a battling century in reply for Marshfield, but support was hard to come by and the visitors were dismissed for 210 as captain Alex Kill and Taylor claimed four wickets each.

Half-centuries from Luke Johnstone (89) and Nick Crabbe (79) set up a 63-run win for bottom side Marlborough away at Corsham 2nd.

The visitors batted first upon winning the toss and racked up 274-7 off their 50 overs.

Jack Humphreys (53) and Michael Myatt (52) led Corsham’s response but the efforts of David West (3-24) ensured the hosts were bowled out for 211 after 48 overs.