DEVIZES started their WEPL Wiltshire campaign with an emphatic 10-wicket win against Marlborough away from home on Saturday.

Tom Grant’s side skittled out the hosts for just 48 before chasing down their target without loss in 10.4 overs.

The result meant Devizes started the season with a maximum 22-point win and Grant was pleasantly surprised by his side’s bowling display.

He said: “I’m very happy with the performance. Everyone wants to start the season with a win.

“Given the weather we’ve had pre-season it was pleasing to see us put in such a good performance, I didn’t expect it.’’

Poor weather since the turn of spring restricted Devizes to only indoor training sessions with the first-team unable to make use of the club’s outdoor facilities.

It meant Saturday’s match provided Grant’s men with their first taste of outdoor cricket in six months, making the result even more remarkable.

He added: “We’ve had some good indoor net sessions since January. They’ve helped more than we thought.

“We’ve had one warm-up game and that’s it.

“Before Saturday we had no outdoor training either - it was the first time we’d been outside in six months.

“We’re stronger bowling than we are batting.

“Everyone did well, at no point did we let pressure get the better of us.

“To bowl like we did and then knock the runs off, you can’t ask for more. It was a brilliant performance”

Elsewhere in the division, Chippenham cruised to a comfortable 216-run victory against Corsham’s second team.

Despite losing skipper Lee Ward (two) early on, Richard Bates (57), Chris Munden (43) and Adeesha Nanayakkara (127) quickly took the game away from Corsham’s reach as the trio accelerated Chippenham’s innings to 223-3.

Late double figure knocks from Steve Silk (28), Ollie Slade (10 not out) and Paul Bates (15) helped Chippenham surpass 300 as Ward’s men ended their 50 overs on 313-7.

Corsham’s reply stalled from the start as they lost four wickets before reaching 50.

Simon Crampton (32) attempted to rescue something for the visitors, but Charlie Slade (3-30) and Philip Adams (3-6) ended any hopes of Corsham picking up batting points.

Chippenham claimed the maximum 22 points on offer while Corsham picked up three bowling points.

Marshfield ran out of wickets as they suffered a 39-run defeat at home to Royal Wootton Bassett.

Jack Twine hit a half century for Bassett to guide them to 289-8 after their 50 overs before Charanveer Chahal returned with figures of 3-44 as Marshfield were out for 250.

Calne also suffered defeat against Purton, who reached their target of 258 with seven balls to spare.