DEVIZES captain Tom Grant will gladly accept any more slices of good fortune that are thrown his side’s way as they aim to pull off a last-gasp rescue mission in the final two weeks of the season.

Grant’s men played out a rain-reduced encounter with Purton at London Road last weekend and by batting second, Devizes were able to chase down their opponents’ 127-7 total to claim a vital six-wicket victory.

That result, which was Devizes’ second successive win, moved them off the bottom of the WEPL Wiltshire table and to within six points of eighth-placed Great Bedwyn, who they host next Saturday.

With two matches to go, skipper Grant is delighted that his team have handed themselves a chance of escaping the bottom two.

“We’re very happy. On Saturday, both teams did great to get a game on and it’s really worked out for us,” said the Devizes captain.

“We came off for rain twice but both teams wanted to play because Purton were going for the title and the umpires were great as well.

“Because we batted second, it was a lot easier for us when we batted because we knew what we had to do, and if that sort of luck comes your way, you’re always going to take it when you’re in our position.

“We play Great Bedwyn next weekend now and that’s a massive game – we play Westbury the weekend after but if we beat Bedwyn, that might mean we avoid the bottom two.

“Burbage might get out of the bottom two in the league above (Premier Two Glos/Wilts), meaning only one Wiltshire side comes down and only one drops out of our league.

“But if we can get out of the bottom two, we won’t have to worry about that.”

After being put in to bat first, Purton were looking steady at 45-2 after 15 overs but the rain set in and hamstrung their efforts, with their innings brought to a close after 25.2 overs as the visitors stood on 127-7, Xander Pitchers hitting 42.

That left Joe Wookey (59 not out) and Steve Chapman (38 not out) to guide Devizes to 131-4 in 25 overs.

Elsewhere, Bob Homani’s unbeaten century proved in vain as Marlborough’s clash with local rivals Bedwyn was forced into an early end by the elements.

Visitors Marlborough were put in to bat first but Homani responded with a towering 111, which included 18 fours, whilst Peter Day weighed in with 56.

The away side stood on 212-3 after 48 overs but the contest was abandoned at that stage, denying George Fox’s men the chance to go for victory.

Calne batted first in their trip to leaders Westbury, Bhodi Johnson hitting 37 as Tom Richards’ side reached 77-6 from an innings reduced to 26 overs but the hosts were unable to chase down their target as they were only able to bat five overs.

Marshfield made 52-2 from 14 overs before their game at Swindon was abandoned but Malmesbury did manage a result away to Trowbridge, but not the one they would have wanted.

George Royle made 35 as Malmesbury could only muster 79-8 from a rain-affected 23 overs, leaving Trowbridge to cruise to 80-1 and a nine-wicket triumph in 7.2 overs.