A SOFT surface may have played its part but Marshfield skipper James Williams insists his team still deserve plenty of credit for their hefty victory over Swindon last weekend.

Winning the toss proved vital for Marshfield at Broadleys as they were able to dismiss their visitors for just 122 after putting them in to bat before comfortably knocking off their target.

But Williams wants nothing taken away from his side’s display as they kept themselves breathing down the necks of WEPL Wiltshire Division leaders Trowbridge with a thumping nine-wicket triumph.

“It was a big toss to win and luckily, it fell our way. It was a tricky pitch but it was still a good performance from us and it wasn’t all to do with the track,” said the Marshfield captain.

“I know Staffy (Andrew Staff), the Swindon captain, quite well and he asked if there was much more we could have done with it but there wasn’t. It wasn’t cut until the Thursday and we’d had the covers on since then but it was still quite soft.

“When you’re on a track like that, one of the things you can do is to try to bat the 50 (overs) but we bowled in some good areas and Swindon never really got any momentum.

“We’ve been putting a good little side together for a few years now and the younger guys are stepping up, rather than just the older ones contributing.

“We knew Trowbridge would be the front-runners and they’ve got a bit of a target on their back but there’s also Purton and Marlborough chasing them and I wouldn’t rule out Westbury or Swindon either.

“We just have to keep going and hope someone else slips up.”

Swindon found themselves under the cosh throughout their innings, with Alex Kill (25) and Douglas Baartman (21) making the greatest contributions as Nic Badings led Marshfield’s bowling attack with 3-26, with the hosts skittled in the 43rd over.

Jeremy Bond, who hit an unbeaten 71 from 58 balls, then blasted the hosts to victory, with Williams’ men reaching 123-1 in less than 22 overs.

Elsewhere, Marlborough wasted no time in decimating local rivals Great Bedwyn, with Mohan Balusu (5-25) and captain George Fox (3-16) tearing through their visitors’ order.

Chris Blundy (13) was the only Bedwyn man to reach double figures as his team were all out for a lowly 58 midway through the 23rd over, and then Nick Crabbe (25 not out) helped Marlborough to 60-2 in less than 13 overs.

Devizes went down by 99 runs at Purton, with the home side’s Tom Bowler (103) driving his side to 223-9, Ben McGowen taking 3-17.

In reply, the visitors were unable to build on opener Joe Wookey’s 41 as they were skittled for 134 midway through the 36th over.

Malmesbury are still hunting for their first victory since beating Calne on the opening day of the season after they lost at home to title-chasing Trowbridge.

James Pearce-Smith’s unbeaten 50 proved in vain as Trowbridge’s Mike Reynolds took 5-50 to help restrict Phil Cook’s men to 188-9 before Ryan Pieterson (94) and Brendon Louw (64) fired Trowbridge to 190-4 in little more than 31 overs.

Calne’s clash with Westbury fell foul of the elements, with the fixture cancelled – and not abandoned – as less than 20 overs had been played before rain curtailed proceedings.