SWINDON Nalgo started the season with a 55-run victory at Bradford on Avon in Division Two.

An unbeaten 79 from Ahmed and a 57 from Subhanker Panigrahy helped the team post 201 before they were dismissed in the 44th over, with Bradford’s Kit Chapman leading the way with 5-35.

In reply, Bradford were set a target of 126 to win from 28 overs due to earlier rain and when Ian Pinchen fell for 26, that sparked a catastrophic collapse as the hosts were skittled for 70. Nalgo skipper Sarfraz Khan took seven wickets for 11 runs in just five overs.

Beanacre and Melksham’s season was made even tougher before a ball was bowled as a number of players left the club ahead of their 169-run defeat at Avebury.

The hosts, upon winning the toss, opted to bat first and were 89-4 after 20 overs before Dominic Fry cut loose as he smashed his way to 147 as Avebury closed on 294-6.

Beanacre, fielding a number of recreational players due to the recent departures, battled hard with Jack Footner top scoring with 40, while father and daughter Andy and Abi Footner shared an eighth wicket stand of 32 as the visitors were eventually dismissed for 125.

Swindon United Churches fell to their second defeat in as many weeks as they fell to an 82-run loss at home to Potterne 2nd.

Churches, without regular bowlers Chris Spackman and Danny Hunt, opted to field first and Potterne recovered from being 23-2 thanks to a 134-run third-wicket stand between captain Jordi Rose (76) and Sam Gaiger (130) as they closed on 290-9. Chris Gilchrist was the pick of the hosts attack with 3-41, while Jimmy Mann chipped in with 2-41.

A magnificent century from Mann, who struck 105 from 113 balls, helped Churches battle hard in reply, but they were dismissed in 43rd over for 208.

Warminster 2nd claimed a 72-run win at Biddestone thanks to the efforts of Tristian Lundqvist and Alex MacDonald.

Lundqvist top-scored with 65 as the visitors posted 178-8 off 45, while MacDonald’s 5-32 saw Biddestone bowled out for 106 despite a 42 from Aled Evans.

Division Five An unbeaten 71 from James Howells helped Biddestone 3rd to a two wicket success at Wilcot.

The hosts were restricted to 184-7 by Biddestone despite solid contributions from Tim Mister (46), Mark Oliver (44) and Gareth Dexter (40).

However, Howells’ knock saw the visitors home with two overs to spare.

Blunsdon enjoyed a three-wicket success at Combe Down.

Asked to bat first, the hosts posted 223-3 with Tom Hulbert leading the charge with 70.

In reply, Blunsdon opener Dean Tomlin (70) made steady early progress before a middle-order blitz that included an unbeaten 59 from Arul Ramasamy and a red hot 49 from Geithal Senaratne [49] took the game away from their hosts with some brutal hitting as the target was reached with seven overs to spare.

Division Nine Biddestone 4th eased to a 176-run win over their Burbage and Easton Royal counter parts.

Harry Beazer (84) and Ryan Berry (49) helped the hosts post 261-9, while Josh Smith’s 4-16 helped them skittle Burbage for 85.