MARLBOROUGH got back to winning ways in the Wiltshire Division thanks to a 45-run victory at Calne last weekend.

Tom Norris’ side, who were beaten by Devizes in their previous outing, now find themselves just two points behind third-placed Marshfield in the league table.

Marlborough were put in to bat first after losing the toss and despite the home side’s Julian Kearney (4-32) piling on the pressure, with Matt Richards (3-42) also turning the screw, skipper Norris carved out a knock of 33 for his side.

Opener Ben Head hit 28 before the visitors’ tail wagged, with Mike Bush adding an unbeaten 32 to help Marlborough post 188-9.

Will Langton then took 4-49 to hamper Dan Knight’s Calne.

Sean Adams hit 37 for the hosts but they were dismissed for 143 with ten overs to spare, leaving Marlborough captain Norris delighted with his team’s performance with the ball.

He said: “Langton bowled with pace and bounce, (Paul) Smith started excellently and Fraser (Gordon) bowled well. There were some good catches by myself and Nick Crabbe and a great run out by Smith.”

Meanwhile, league leaders Burbage & Easton Royal edged ever closer to securing top spot after beating local rivals Great Bedwyn by eight wickets.

Richard Bosson hit 79 for hosts Bedwyn but visiting skipper Tom Wallbridge took five wickets for just 32 runs as the home side were skittled for 163 early in the 45th over.

Michael Papps then guided Burbage over the line with an unbeaten 88 from 59 deliveries, with the visitors reaching 164-2 in 32 overs Wallbridge’s men are now 28 points clear at the top of the table after Marshfield claimed a narrow single-wicket home win over second-placed Purton.

Elijah Samuel top-scored with 53 for the visitors, who batted first after winning the toss, whilst Sam Pinchin (28) and Imran Ashraf (24) also chipped in.

But Jeremy Bond and Tom Bright both took three wickets apiece to help skittle Purton for 214 in the 48th over.

Marshfield were then set a rain-reduced target of 122 from 27 overs, with the visitors’ Ed Holdaway hampering the hosts’ run chase as he took 3-13.

But Bond hit 42 as Dan Watson’s men reached 125-9 with less than half an over to go.

Devizes handed their survival chances another shot in the arm as they notched up a third successive victory.

Joe Wookey’s men beat Winsley by seven wickets, with the Devizes captain taking 3-18 to turn the screw on the visitors after they were put in to bat first.

Winsley were restricted to 154-9 before Tom Grant stepped in and blasted Devizes to 155-3 with his unbeaten knock of 82.

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