MARLBOROUGH captain Arran Dickinson has a smile on his face and not least because his side now find themselves 16 points clear at the top of the Wiltshire Division.

The Savernake Forest outfit racked up their fifth win of the season with a 61-run triumph over near-neighbours Great Bedwyn last weekend.

Skipper Dickinson says that the team spirit within the Marlborough camp is the best he’s seen and reckons that has been the main driving point behind his side’s promising start to the summer.

“I spent three years at Lechlade and it’s no disrespect to them because I’ve got mates there, but when you’re playing a higher level, you’re playing with people from different areas and things like that,” said Dickinson.

“We’re all friends at Marlborough and everyone wants everyone else to do well. Everybody is playing with a smile on their face and that’s helping. When somebody doesn’t get runs, they’ll be the first in training the next week or asking somebody else to net with them to help play them back into form – it’s probably the best team spirit that I’ve seen.

“Everybody’s turning up to training and people are staying at the bar after a game for a drink, which doesn’t always happen.”

Marlborough elected to bat first after winning the toss and their innings was build on three 75-plus partnerships, with Ben Head (90), Pete Day (67*) starring, with Dickinson (28*) also amongst the runs as the visitors posted 252-3.

James Hart (48), Richard Bosson (42) and Neil Maycock (40) all attempted to hit back for John Palmer’s Bedwyn but Marlborough’s Will Langton took 3-36 as they were dismissed for 191 with just under three overs to go.

Elsewhere, Marshfield notched up a third victory in a row with a dramatic win at Winsley.

James Williams’ side batted first and despite losing their first four wickets for just 50 runs, Calum Burnstone (63) stepped in to anchor the innings. Ben Gardner added 34 whilst Matt Watson added a late unbeaten 25 as Marshfield posted 217-8, with Winsley’s Ben Strange taking 4-27.

Alain Hewitt spearheaded the hosts’ run chase but William Johnson claimed 4-31 and the visitors’ bowling attack did just about enough to secure the result, skittling Winsley for 214 with just over an over-and-a-half remaining.

Devizes were first to the crease in their derby with Calne, Tom Andrew and Tom Grant hitting 57 and 49 respectively whilst Joe Clare and Tom Crosby took three wickets apiece to restrict the visitors to 188-7.

Jordan Butler (56) led the Calne run-chase, with James Watson (35) and 38 extras contributing to Dan Knight’s side reaching 193-8 midway through the 47th over.

Malmesbury are celebrating their first win of the season following a 68-run triumph at home to Purton.

Jack Ward’s men batted first after winning the toss and found themselves under pressure as they were all out for 186, George Royle (41) and James Pearce-Smith (39*) starring whilst Purton’s Patrick Whittaker and Adam Woolford took three wickets each.

But the Malmesbury bowlers proved even deadlier, Royle (3-45), Fin Beldon (2-25), Josh Langley and Ward (2-6) dismissing the visitors for 118 in little more than 33 overs.