SWINDON United Churches got the 2019 Wiltshire Cricket League season off to a disappointing start with a 79-run defeat at home to Bear Flat in Division 2.

The majority of teams begin their campaigns this coming weekend, but there were a handful of fixtures dotted around the county last Saturday.

There were none in Division 1, with the game between United Churches and Bear Flat the only one in the second tier.

Openers Mark Gunning (85) and Joe De Souza (80) set the tone for the Bears, leading them to a total of 230-4 off their 45 overs.

Mark Defty (77) was the only Swindon batsman to offer significant resistance as the reply was limited to 151-9 as Tom Harris and Paul Wood picked up three wickets each.

In Division Three, Heytesbury & Sutton Veny claimed a thrilling one-wicket win at home to White Horse.

Edward Read’s 4-30 helped bowl White Horse out for 169 and Heytesbury reached their target inside 41 overs, finishing on 170-9.

Brilliant batting from Jack Colyer (211no) and Harry Latham (104) set up Potterne 3rd for a 272-run victory at home to Keevil.

Those two led Potterne to a monster total of 384-5 before Colyer then shone with the ball, taking 6-36 as Keevil mustered just 112 in reply.

Wroughton Wranglers claimed a 24-run win at Ramsbury in Division 4.

Mark McMeeking top scored with 55 as Wroughton were dismissed for 199, with Rob Minton taking three wickets for Ramsbury.

The hosts were then dismissed for 175 in reply as McMeeking and Alan Fisher claimed three wickets each.

In Division 5, Mike Barton (135) and Toby Dorgan (125) both racked up the runs as Erlestoke thrashed visiting Spye Park by 151 runs.

Erlestoke posted 355-3 before restricting Spye Park to 204.

Hinton Charterhouse 2nd (158--6) beat Buscot Park (157-9) by four wickets, while Purton 2nd (112) earned a 42-run win at Sherston Magna (70).