BIDDESTONE team manager Kevin Mitchell is hoping that his side have received a major confidence boost following their thumping win over fellow early-season strugglers Apperley last weekend.

The villagers, who began Saturday second-from-bottom in the Glos/Wilts Division, welcomed the basement boys to Cuttle Lane but any worries of becoming the first team to be vanquished by Apperley this term were quickly dispelled as they put the Gloucestershire outfit to the sword.

After once again shuffling their batting order, Biddestone romped to a storming 181-run triumph.

“Our overseas player, Dominic Hendricks, has opened the batting for us but not had any luck so far, so we changed the openers again and went with two young lads,” said Mitchell.

“They put on a partnership of 165 for the first wicket and that allowed Dominic to come in at number three and get his first 50 of the season.

“We’ve finished second or third in the last few seasons but we’ve had a tough start to the season.

“With the restructuring, we need to make sure that we don’t finish bottom of the league because we could end up being relegated two tiers if that happens.

“Hopefully, scoring a few runs will give the guys a bit of a confidence boost and we can push on from here.”

Opener Chris Baker was Biddestone’s star performer with the bat as he knocked away a total of 97, whilst Tim Knight was also in fine form with 89.

Dominic Hendricks then weighed in with 55 as the home side reached 294-5.

Apperley’s order then crumbled, with only two batsmen reaching double figures as they were dismissed for 113 in the 43rd over, Baker the standout bowler with 4-17.

Elsewhere, Burbage & Easton Royal beat Frenchay by three wickets, Luke Woodock hitting a century (100) to help chase down 249-6, which was inspired by the visitors’ Tyrone Isitt (107*).

Sourish Mukherjee added 51 as Burbage reached 252-6 with the final ball of the game.

Chippenham won by two wickets at Gloucester City Winget, Owen Alsop taking 3-22 to help skittle the hosts for 145 in the 44th over before Darryl Losper (42) and Todd Richardson (39) drove them to 146-8 in the 40th over.