MALMESBURY skipper Tom Pickering hopes his side are on course for a top four finish after their five-wicket victory over Devizes.

Pickering was originally standing in for injured captain Jack Ward but now looks set to skipper the side for the remainder of the season, with Ward still sidelined with a hip injury picked up playing rugby in April.

“I love captaining and it’s a great experience to do it,” said Pickering, whose side sit fifth in the table.

“I think we’ve got a good chance of finishing in the top four but we know that this weekend’s game against Lechlade will be a hard one.

“On Saturday, I thought we were always in control after Richard Jefferson’s outstanding spell.”

Joe Wookey’s Devizes opted to bat first after winning the toss but saw their first four batsmen, including Tom Grant who hit 18, fall to Jefferson, who finished with figures of 4-15.

Barney Read attempted to steady the ship late on with 51 but Malmesbury’s Richard Gaunt and Stuart McNeil took three and two respectively, with Devizes skittled for 109 after 39 overs.

The visitors’ Grant hit back by taking three himself but Glyn Rees-Jones made an unbeaten 25.

Opener James Pearce-Smith hit 23 while Phil Jordan added 18 as Pickering’s side reached 113-5.

Devizes travel to Spye Park this weekend.