RUTHLESS Corsham maintained their slim hopes of winning the Premier One crown with a crushing eight-wicket success at Downend.

In a match that was suppose to last 100 overs, Ashur Morrison’s men were back on the road home after less than 25.

Having lost the toss, Corsham, who would have batted first according to Morrison, found themselves in the field.

On a wicket that the Wiltshire vice-captain described as ‘flat’, Corsham’s strike bowlers, Nick Harrison and James Arney, did all the damage in just 16.5 overs as the hosts were ripped out for 48 runs.

Former Worcestershire seamer Harrison claimed 4-20 from his 8.5 overs, while Arney, who has broken into the Wiltshire side in the last few weeks, picked up 6-28 from his eight.

While Dwaine Fielding (0) and Morrison (13) were back in the pavilion early on, Steve Bullen (25*) and Sam Collier (8*) saw the visitors home after just 46 balls and moved Corsham up to third in the table – 24 points behind Bath and 36 adrift of Frocester.

“It was pretty comprehensive,” said Morrison. “Nick and Arney bowled really well.

“I seem to be complimenting them every week, but they bowled the right line and length and once their top four had gone, the rest didn’t want to know.

“I have been on at my players to be more clinical, when you’ve got a team struggling you have to ram home your advantage and we did that with Nick and Arney softening them up with a few bouncers.

“If I’m honest I would have batted first as well, the wicket looked pretty flat, although there was a thick covering of live grass.

“If Downend had applied themselves a bit more they might have got themselves a defendable total.

“They had only faced about 17 overs so the conditions were pretty much the same for us and we only lost two wickets.

“Potterne did us a favour this week by beating (then league-leaders) Bath, but we now need Frocester to start losing too.”