SHREYAS Malhotra’s five-wicket haul has kept Bear Flat in the driving seat to become Wiltshire League champions The Division One leaders, who were bowled out for 185 in their match with Avebury, dismissed their hosts for 116 with Malhotra picking up 5-31 from his nine overs to help his side secure 25 points and increase the gap at the top of the table to 19 points going into the final weekend of the campaign.

Corsham 2nd could only pick up 23 points from their penultimate match of the year despite skittling Lacock for 94.

The second placed side needed less than 39 overs to bowl their hosts out with Jon Siggins taking 4-19, while Simon Crampton chipped in with 4-32.

In reply, an unbeaten 36 from Crampton and a 25 not out from Corey Harbour-Burgess saw Corsham home in the 29th over despite a valiant effort from Jamie Walker, who finished with 4-22 having taken three wickets in four balls.

Elsewhere in Division One, Swindon 2nd edged a high-scoring match with Winlsey by two wickets, while Malmesbury also a two-wicket success over Nationwide House, however, it was a day to be a bowler with 18 wickets falling for 165 runs.

DIVISION TWO

BIDDESTONE 2nd picked up a 74-run victory over Bradford on Avon.

Thomas Walker’s 59 was the pick of the visitors’ 178-5 total, while Henry Entwistle chipped in with an unbeaten 25.

Bradford were then bowled out for 104 with Phil Knight taking 4-17, while Sebastian Galardo picked up 3-7 and there was a wicket apiece for Alden Muench, Nathan Caddell and Walker.

DIVISION THREE

SWINDON United Churches title bid was ended with one game to go following a three-wick defeat at Heytesbury & Sutton Veny.

After opting to bat first, Churches found themselves 41-3 after 12 overs before slipping to 58-6.

However, Mark Defty offered his side some resistance as he helped the Sevenhampton-based side to 158 all out with an unbeaten run-a-ball 53, while Bilal Hussan blasted 24 from 11 balls.

Heytesbury never really looked in trouble with their reply and reached drinks at 94-3 before victory was secured with more than 10 overs to spare.

Chris Spackman was the pick of the Churches bowlers with 3-33, while Hussain took 2-33.

DIVISION FOUR

MARLBOROUGH 2nd looked set to secure the runner-up spot following their 60-run success over their Nationwide House counterparts.

The hosts began the day in third place, behind Nationwide, but a fine batting performance saw them post 239-4 from 45 overs with Joe Arkwright (92) and Dave Curtis-Slater (81) leading the way.

Rob Atkinson then picked up 4-29 as Marlborough bowled their visitors out for 179 in the 37th over despite a fine knock of 60 from Dominic O’Neill.

The 22 points Marlborough claimed was enough to see them leap-frog Nationwide into second spot with one game to go.

DIVISION FIVE

BIDDESTONE 3rd picked up a three-wicket win over Blundson.

The visitors were bowled out for 170 with Scott Metcalfe (44) and Dean Tomlin (41) the top-scorers, while Andy Marsh (3-10) and Martin Hewitt (3-21) the pick of the Biddestone attack.

In reply, Joe Panes’ 52 and an unbeaten 44 from Cormac Pritchett saw the hosts to victory.

Melksham claimed a six-wicket win at Buscot Park.

The visitors restricted Park to 169-6 from their 45 overs with Andy Footner taking 3-35, while Rich Hemmings and Chris Long only conceded 15 runs in 18 overs between them.

In reply, Footner hit an unbeaten 52 to help his side home in the 40th over.

DIVISION SIX

MARSHFIELD 2nd and Devizes 2nd go into the final weekend just separated by two in the race for the title.

Devizes surrendered top spot after their 44-run loss at Erlestoke, who saw Toby Dorgan (101) and Joe Dorgan (121 not out) help them post 287-5.

The visitors were then bowled out for 243 despite the efforts of James Dunford (83).

New leaders Marshfield picked up a 95-run success over Bradford on Avon 2nd.

A knock of 84 from Dan Watson helped Marshfield post 253-5 before the title-chasers dismissed Bradford for 158 to claim 22 points.

DIVISION SEVEN

HIGHWORTH picked up a 78-run win over Corsham 4th after Luke Roche’s 56 helped them post a winning total of 205-8.

DIVISION EIGHT

SWINDON Nalgo 2nd kept their title hopes alive with a two-wicket success at their Avebury counterparts.

The visitors dismissed Avebury for 94, before getting home in the 36th over, while leaders Trowbridge 3rd suffered a two-wicket loss at home to Box 2nd to leave the gap between the top two sides at just six points.

DIVISION NINE

GOATACRE 4th take the crown in the bottom division following their 48-run success at Burbage and Easton Royal 4th.

In their final match of the season, Goatacre were bowled out 140, however, they then dismissed Burbage for 92 to take the crown.