CHIPPENHAM captain Steve Silk says his team are finally growing up after their hard fought win on Saturday.

The side were 86-6 on a precariously wet pitch and Silk feels it was a sign of his young sides maturity which saw them recover.

"At the start of the year we would have probably been all out for 100 but they have learnt so quickly from just half a season," he said.

"They are understanding cricket at a senior level more and not giving their wickets away, so it was a very good day for us."

The hosts were put into bat on a damp wicket and lost Adam Miles before a run was scored.

Fellow opener Nick Pocock only scored seven but Silk (34) and Mark Harrison (36) steadied the ship before a middle order collapse.

But 14-year-old Uzair Qureshi hit 21 and Courtney Earl made an impressive 16 not out off 15 balls to guide his side over the magical 150 mark.

"We said before the game 150 would win it for us," said Silk. "It was not easy for us to bat, the ball was pitching, taking divots out of the ground and going wherever it wanted too."

Defending their total James Schofield (2-27) got Chippenham off to a great start, reducing the visitors to 3-2.

Good spells from Clifton Folkes (3-26) and Phil Adams (2-23), and one wicket each for Earl and overseas ace Jace Lawson, ensured they did the league double over Gloucester.

Now, Silk is looking to build on their fifth win of the season and still have a say in the title race.

"With five games left we could still mess people up at the top, I know Biddestone will be thinking their toughest game left is us," he said.

Bottom of the table Marlborough are the next team to visit on Saturday with Silk hoping for another good performance from his ever improving side.

He said: "We are looking forward to it, we are starting to come together, which is not easy because they are all young. But they are really starting to feel part of a team."