MARLBOROUGH picked up their first Wiltshire Cricket League win of the season with a narrow 12-run victory over Swindon 2nd in Division One.

Despite Cameron Oliver’s excellent bowling figures of 4-29 for Swindon, Marlborough’s Peter Day scored 51 to aid the home side in posting 217-9 from their full allocation of 45 overs.

And with no visiting batsman matching or moving past Day’s score, Marlborough squeezed the life out of Swindon’s chase and the visitors left empty-handed.

Chippenham 2nd suffered their first defeat of the season after falling just five runs short of the target set by opponents Corsham 2nd.

Corsham batted first and, after 130 runs were added by three middle order batsmen, the hosts posted a competitive 188 all out, with Corey Burgess finishing on an unbeaten 40.

Trevor Lloyd’s 54 not out almost helped the visitors reach their target, but Lloyd ran out of partners and Chippenham fell agonisingly short on 183.

Great Bedwyn maintained their early 100 per cent record with a five-wicket victory away at Winsley.

The home side got off to a flying start as Giles Williams (66) and Stuart MacDougall (71) reached half-centuries, but once they were removed, the wheels started to come off for Winsley and they had to settle for 245 from their 45 overs.

Sam Tuttle took 4-35 with the ball and was then instrumental in Bedwyn’s successful reply.

An impressive 85 not out from Richard Bosson did the brunt of the damage, and Tuttle reached his half-century before being caught.

Nevertheless, Bosson and Max Andrews saw Bedwyn over the line to make it three wins from their opening three matches.

Leaders Avebury were not made to work too hard to keep up their 100 per cent record, though.

After bowling Beckington out for 130 as each bowler took at least one wicket, half-centuries from Dominic Fry (58no) and Stuart Windsor (54) guided Avebury to a nine-wicket win.

Malmesbury dominated Nationwide House, winning by 64 runs.

Michael Collison top scored with 63 as Malmesbury struck 193-5 from their 45 overs.

In reply, the House batsmen continued to lose untimely wickets, with Joe Tranter taking 4-33 from his nine overs as the home side were all out for 129.

Division Two

SWINDON NALGO won a thrilling game by one wicket against leaders Bear Flat.

The home side posted 222-4 thanks to solid knocks from Mark Gunning (69) and Ross Newman (65), while none of the NALGO batsmen could move into the 40s during their reply.

Ahmed Hassan top scored with 38 as NALGO continuously lost wickets throughout their innings.

However, Prashant Joshi (27no) and Varinder Singh saw their team over the line to claim a nail-biting win with 12 balls to go.

Meanwhile, Swindon United Churches suffered defeat by six wickets away at Burbage & Easton Royal 2nd.

Openers Stefan Bartlett (64) and James Mann (51) got Churches off to a superb start, however, six ducks from their final nine batsmen deflated any hopes of a score of over 200 and they had to settle for 151 all out.

Burbage carefully set about chasing the below-par score down and successfully achieved their goal in the 38th over, having only lost four wickets.

Division Three

BRADFORD-ON-AVON comfortably saw off Swindon 3rd by nine wickets.

Swindon toiled their way towards 157 all out – with Kit Chapman taking 4-36 – before Bradford’s two openers caused chaos.

Matthew Harrington finished on 59 not out, while Chris Thompson was caught for 75.

Paul Vooght came in to finish the job as the home side strolled over the winning line in the 31st over.

Division Four

A MAMMOTH 130 not out from Melksham opener Matthew Hunt helped his side to a 14-run victory over Marlborough 2nd.

Melksham posted 226-6 before restricting their visitors to 212-7 from their 45 overs.

Elsewhere, Wroughton Wranglers kept up their 100 per cent winning record with a comfortable win over Wanborough.

The home side struggled their way to 121 all out before Wroughton knocked off the runs with four wickets remaining.

Division Six

BLUNSDON made it three wins from three thanks to their 37-run victory over Beckington 2nd.

Elsewhere, an outstanding batting display from Antony Wood (138no) helped register Malmesbury 2nd their first win of the season, beating Burbage & Easton Royal 3rd by 168 runs.

Wood's knocked helped Malmesbury post a mammoth 315-3 before Burbage were bowled out for 147 in reply.