MARLBOROUGH have managed to keep their faint title hopes alive after seeing out a tight three-run victory at Purton.

Third-placed Marlborough, who were without captain George Fox, won the toss and elected to bat.

Initially this looked like a mistake, when Purton skipper Aaron Lee took four of the first five wickets early on, with Harrison Painter and Zwelibanzi Homani both going for a duck.

The other three dismissals were stand-in captain Nick Crabbe (7), James Richardson (4) and Peter Day to leave the visitors in trouble on 22-5.

Despite the poor start, they soon managed to nudge up their total, adding another 49 at the cost of two wickets.

At 74-7, Marlborough still needed to rally and they reached 129-8 when Paul Langton was dismissed.

Paul Smith and Joe Arkwright helped steer Marlborough to 155 before they were bowled out with the former top scoring with 37.

Despite a mediocre total to defend, it proved to be just enough to get them the victory as Purton could only manage 152 all out as opening bowler Will Langton picked up 3-13 from his three overs.

Unlike Marlborough, Marshfield suffered a seven-wicket defeat this weekend when they hosted Trowbridge, who had the games highest scorer with Brendon Louw registering 69.

Hosts Malmesbury ran out as winners against Devizes by five wickets in what was a bottom-of-the-table clash.

The victors provided most of the highlights, which included a half century from George Royle (54) meanwhile, teammate Marcus Bond came close with 49.

Great Bedwyn produced a good performance to beat Calne, the eight-wicket win providing a trio of half centuries.

Two came from Great Bedwyn, in the shape of John and Rob Palmer (56 and 77 respectively) with Calne’s Tom Richards hitting 88.