MARLBOROUGH took the honours in the top-of-the-table clash against Westbury & District, with their 61-run win opening up a seven-point gap from second-placed Trowbridge.

It was a superb battling performance from Marlborough as, having recovered from a sticky position at 65-5, they were able to post 201-8 and then bowled the visitors our for just 140.

Although his team missed out on some valuable bowling bonus points, Marlborough captain Arran Dickinson could not be too disappointed with their efforts.

“Before the start of the game we would have taken this result without a second thought and we would have certainly done so at tea,” said Dickinson.

“Yes we could have done a little better at the end but we batted well in hindsight and bowled very well under pressure.

“This has been a very good win for us and will give us good confidence and momentum for the coming games.”

Having lost the toss, Marlborough were asked to bat and seemed to be in trouble fairly quickly, with Ben Head and Peter Day both back in the pavilion with only 16 on the board.

Last week’s centurions, George Penfold (26) and James Richardson (20), seemed to have things back under control and had taken the score to 46 when the latter was dismissed and Marlborough then looked to be in serious trouble when Will Thomas followed soon afterwards.

Following Penfold’s demise, Dickinson and George Fox set about trying to resurrect the innings, with the skipper bringing up a half-century and the pair had taken the score to 133 before Dickinson was removed by Tom Lucas for 52.

Fox (44*), Brad Frost, Will Langton and finally Paul Smith added 68 runs off the last nine overs to get Marlborough to a respectable total of 201-8.

Alex Senneck was the pick of the attack with 3-27.

Marlborough knew they had to bowl well and this they did, with Westbury opener Richard removed by Fox (3-50) in the first over of the reply.

Fox followed up with the wicket of Jarred McDonald and when Frost (3-14) trapped Dan Gill lbw, Westbury found themselves at 8-3 after just six overs.

Captain Senneck and Lydon Gibbons settled Westbury for a brief period and had taken the score to 37 when Senneck fell.

Westbury then lost wickets on a regular basis, Head bowled key man Gibbons for 49, and Marlborough finished off the game when Andy Carroll (32) was caught by Dave West off Smith.

Elsewhere, a magnificent 140 not out from Robert Palmer inspired Great Bedwyn to a nine-wicket win at Purton.

The home side had racked up a respectable 266 all out after winning the toss, with Richard Bosson (3-59) taking top marks with the ball for Great Bedwyn.

The reply got off to a difficult start when opener John Palmer was back in the hutch with just 24 on the board but from there his brother Robert dominant the innings.

Ably supported by James Hart (76*), Palmer got Great Bedwyn to their target with eight overs to spare.

Joe Wookey claimed a magnificent seven wickets to see Devizes to a 31-run win over Marshfield.

Wookey’s haul helped restrict Marshfield to 168 all out in reply to Devizes’ 199, a total built on 73 from Tom Shaw.

Michael Collison fell six runs short of a century but he won’t be too disappointed as Malmesbury beat Winsley by six runs.

Jack Ward also made 57 as Malmesbury posted 275 all out, with Winsley’s Simon Orchard claiming 5-55.

James Neale (55*) and Alain Hewett (51) helped them get close to that target but in the end Winsley finished just short on 269-8.

There was an agonising defeat for Calne as they were bowled out one run shy of Trowbridge’s total.

Set 220 to win, Calne came up just short as their final wicket fell with just 219 on the board.