BIDDESTONE team manager Kevin Mitchell paid tribute to his team’s character after they snatched a stirring victory from the jaws of defeat.

After struggling to muster up a formidable total from their own innings, Biddestone were preparing themselves for the bitter taste of disappointment as their hosts Warminster put up 86 for their first wicket, leaving them on course to comfortably reach their target of 162.

But the villagers rolled up their sleeves and roared back with the ball, tearing through their opponents and eventually sealing victory by a narrow three-run margin.

“We were in trouble in both innings and when we were at 92-7, it was only a partnership of about 58 from Dwaine (Perry) and Liam Boulton that helped us get any kind of score,” said Mitchell.

“Warminster were confident and when they were at 86-1, we were staring down the barrel.

“But Naeem Khan, who’s been our main bowler for the last 10 years, came in for his second spell and really kicked things off. We sprayed it about early on but once we got rid of their two openers, we went on from there.

“Naeem and Dwaine are our only two players that are over 30 and sometimes, you need your experienced guys to drag the young lads through. The character was fantastic and it was enjoyable to be a part of.”

Perry (68) was Biddestone’s star man with the bat whilst Chris Baker (29) and Boulton (20) were the only others to make any headway as the villagers were dismissed for 161 midway through the 43rd over.

Ankit Shastri (30) and Tom Davie (31) got Warminster off to a promising start but then the wickets began to tumble, with Naeem Khan finishing with figures of 5-29 whilst Perry took 3-23.

The hosts’ Desmond Kruger hit 46 but Warminster were dismissed for 158.

Elsewhere, Chippenham have raced up to second in the Glos/Wilts Division table following their 86-run triumph over struggling Tewkesbury.

Lee Ward’s men were put in to bat first and reached 217 in 48 overs before they were bowled out, Billy Cookson (55) and Arran Merryweather (35) leading the way.

But Owen Alsop starred with the ball as he took 4-30 to put the squeeze on Tewkesbury, for whom John Allcoat made 43 in vain as his side were skittled for 131 in 41 overs.

“We set our stall out at the start of the season to win the league and didn’t get off to a good start but we’re closer to how we’d like to play now,” said Ward. “We’ve got a top-of-the-table clash with Rockhampton next weekend, so we’ll see where we really are then.”

Burbage & Easton Royal’s trip to Apperley was rained off.