ROYAL Wootton Bassett claimed a major scalp as they picked up a nine-wicket win at local rivals Swindon in WEPL Wiltshire.

It was the second weekend in succession that skipper Darren Beasant’s troops had faced tough opposition after suffering a defeat to Trowbridge seven days earlier.

Bassett won the toss and chose to put Swindon in to bat, a decision which paid off as they took the initiative early on as Akash Sharma bagged a trio of wickets, complimented by doubles from Mark Thatcher, Ben Batchelor and Asanka Vithanage to dismiss the home side for 170.

Despite the weather having some impact on proceedings, as the visitors were forced off several times, Beasant says it didn’t disrupt his team too much as they eased home chasing a revised target, finishing on 132-1.

“We had them in trouble early doors and they were 100-8 but managed to get themselves up to 170,” said Beasant. “It was more than we thought they would get but we still thought we could get 170 at Swindon, which is a bit of a batting paradise at times.

“We got off to a decent start and were 80-0, then we had a couple of spells where we were on and off because of the rain but you just have to have the right mentality.”

Elsewhere, Suffan Hassan made an unbeaten 99 to set Marshfield on the way to a thumping 144-run win at home to Great Bedwyn.

Hassan and Jeremy Bond (50) helped Marshfield to a total of 248-6 before Thomas Lamb ran through the Bedwyn batting line-up, taking 4-23 to dismiss them for just 104.

A last-wicket Warminster stand denied Marlborough their second win of the season as they were beaten narrowly at home.

Three wickets each from Rory Cullinan and Wouter Ras kept Marlborough down to 145-9 off their 50 overs.

Equally good bowling from Fraser Gordon (3-27) then had the Warminster reply in trouble and Marlborough on the brink of victory at 140-9 but the final pair of Dominic Webb and Bradley Small saw the visitors over the line.

Calne were no match for leaders Trowbridge as they made just 102 in the second innings to fall to 101-run defeat at home.

Joseph Clare took 3-35 as Trowbridge were bowled out for 203-8 but Scott Mitchell (5-43) and George Reed (3-6) made short work of Calne’s response, which ended in the 27th over.

Rain was unable to save Devizes as they were soundly beaten by 113 runs away at Purton.

The home side posted 207-6 off their 50 overs and Devizes slumped to 94-8 in reply in the face off fine bowling from Aaron Lee (4-22). Rain set in but Devizes were still well short of any potential revised Duckworth-Lewis target.