JEREMY Bond’s five-wicket haul helped fire Marshfield past Purton as they claimed a seven-wicket win.

Stand-in captain Will Pascal won the toss and opted to put the home side in to bat on a damp Saturday afternoon.

Bond’s bowling proved to be a potent weapon as he managed to dismiss five of Purton’s batting order as the hosts were bowled out for 217, with Suffan Hassan also registering a hat-trick of wickets.

However, the weather then had its say and the game was abandoned, with Marshfield at 97-3, but that was enough for the visitors to claim the victory.

Marshfield skipper Pascal said: “In that sort of game it comes down to who wins the toss, really. We managed to win the toss and bowl first.

“We stuck them in and put in a good opening stand. The game was in their court but we managed to bring it back really well.

“A lot of the other games in the top half of the table were rained off, so for us to get a win means we gain on Trowbridge and Warminster.”

Next up for third-placed Marshfield is a top of the table clash with Warminster and Pascal is feeling positive about his side’s chances.

Going into the weekend’s clash, Pascal has been handed another bonus as batsman Rupert Crockett returns to the team. “It is a massive game, we have a really strong side out for Saturday too so we are confident we can get a win against them, because we are in really good form at the moment,” added Pascal.

“Jeremy Bond got another five wickets for us, he is in the form of his life and I think he is the best player in the league at the moment.

“With bat and ball he is just dominating so we are really confident we can get a win and move closer to Trowbridge and Warminster.”

Warminster and Calne had to settle for nine points each as the weather played havoc with the WEPL Wiltshire fixtures.

Warminster’s Tom Davie will be left feeling frustrated as he had managed to record an unbeaten 65, before rain halted play. Elsewhere, Devizes too had their game abandoned with pacesetters Trowbridge.