HIS team may have been beaten but Saturday’s match was still one to savour for bowler Naeem Khan as he brought up the staggering landmark of 400 league wickets for Biddestone.

Khan arrived for Biddestone’s home WEPL Premier Two Glos/Wilts contest against Dumbleton with 399 wickets to his name, and was able to add three more scalps to that lengthy list as his side slipped to a narrow one-wicket defeat.

The 47-year-old made his Biddestone debut back in 2006 and has previously played first-class cricket back in his homeland in Pakistan.

“It is a big achievement for me. Cricket is my life, I love to play the game and I still keep myself fit,” said Khan.

“Biddestone is a good club to play for and I have enjoyed all of my 12 years here. I hope I have got a few years left and I want to try to get to 500 wickets.”

After Dumbleton won the toss and asked Biddestone to bat first, the hosts were able to make their way to a total of exactly 200 before they were all out with two overs to spare.

Akito Jacques top scored with 45 but saw his hopes of a half-century dashed when he was run-out.

Khan then led the attack for Biddestone when they got their hands on the ball, and they had the win in their sights when the ninth wicket went down with Dumbleton still nine runs shy of their target.

However, that last wicket eluded them and Dumbleton scraped over the line with an over to spare, finishing on 201-9.

Khan said: “It was a close game on Saturday. It was a good one to play in, but it was disappointing to lose by one wicket.

“We’ve played some good stuff already this season, and hopefully we can do a little bit better this weekend and get that first win.”

There was a first victory of the season for Burbage & Easton Royal at the weekend, which came courtesy of Adam Lavis’ five-wicket haul at home to Westbury & District.

Lavis (5-12) and brother James (4-24) took nine of the 10 Westbury wickets to fall as Burbage triumphed by 35 runs.

The home side had only set a below-par total of 110 after Westbury captain Alex Senneck took 4-15, but the Lavis brothers then skittled the visitors’ reply for just 75.

Corsham also broke their duck with an 89-run success away at Lechlade.

Opener Tom Smith scored 83 to help the hosts post 251 all out, with Simon Taylor taking 4-34 for Lechlade.

Tom Foley then led the charge with the ball for Corsham as his 4-52 saw Lechlade dismissed for 162 in 36 overs, despite 50 from Freddie Tucker.