BEAR Flat secured their first Wiltshire League title after recording a comfortable 57-run victory over Box.

Batting first, the Bears, who are only in their second season in the top flight, posted 186 from their 45 overs with Rob Wilson (43) and Ross Newman (42) the top-scorers.

Jay Morris and Newman then ripped through the Box top order with three wickets apiece as they left the visitors reeling at 16-6.

A seventh-wicket partnership between Dave Crawford (52) and Rich Foley (36) restored some respectability, but the Box innings was eventually wrapped up for 129.

Division Two

SWINDON A claimed a 31-run away success over Biddestone 2nd.

Nathan White’s 43 helped Swindon to 174-9 in their innings despite Kieran Gash claiming 4-24.

The visitors then shared the wickets around as James Parkinson, Tom Foreman, Preshant Shimonga and Mike Giddings picked up two apiece as Biddestone were dismissed for 143.

Meanwhile, Potterne 2nd wrapped up the divisional title with a 128-run success at Beckington after posting 270-6 from their 45 overs.

Division Three

WITH Chippenham 2nd having already wrapped up the crown, Swindon United Churches ensured they took the runners-up spot by beating the champions by six runs.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first, but were reduced to 15-3 following fine opening spells from Murad Khan and Adam Sullivan (2-8 from seven overs) before Daniel Hunt added some resistance to the Churches batting with a watchful 23, while a late blitz from Bilal Hussain helped his side to 101 before they were bowled out in the 37th over.

Churches captain Richard Martin then tore through the Chippenham top order with four of his five wickets in his opening spell to leave the visitors reeling at 9-4.

Chippenham opener Peter Sykes attempted to prop up the batting as he helped them to 81-8 before he was snared by Martin, Hunt then yorked Khan to wrap up the win.

Division Four

MARLBOROUGH 2nd were another side who secured second spot by beating a Chippenham team who were already champions.

The Savernake men restricted Chippenham 3rd to 223-8 in their innings, before skipper David Curtis-Slater hit an unbeaten 73, while his opening partner Vital Guntaka struck 80, before Joe Arkwright joined his captain at the crease to score 47 not out and see the hosts to an eight wicket victory in the 36th over.

Division Five

TROWBRIDGE 2nd claimed a three-wicket home win over Biddestone 3rd.

The visitors were dismissed for 128 despite Joe Panes striking 41. Panes then led the Biddestone charge with the ball with 3-25 but the hosts eased home with Adam Boulton top-scoring with 34.

Melksham picked up a four-wicket success at Goatacre 3rd.

Gary Ings got the ball rolling for Melksham as he took a wicket with his first ball, while Chris Long wrapped up the Goatacre innings for 167 with three wickets.

Stand-in skipper Matt Hunt then led from the front with 48 as Melksham secured the win.

Meanwhile, Burbage and Easton Royal 2nd took the title following their eight-wicket success at Buscot Park after dismissing their hosts for 118 with Terry Strong taking 3-13 from six overs.

Division Six

DEVIZES 2nd were pipped to the divisional crown by their Marshfield counterparts despite finishing level on points with the table-toppers.

Devizes went into the game knowing that they had to better Marshfield’s points haul at Winsley 2nd by three as the leaders had won two more games than them.

Despite a poor start with the bat, an unbeaten 205 from Steve Chapman and 96 not out from Gary Rogers helped the hosts to 353-4 from their 45 overs.

Devizes then bowled out their hosts for 122 to claim 24 points from their 231-run success. However Marshfield took 22 points from their eight-wicket win at Winsley 2nd after dismissing them for 132.

Division Seven

CHAMPIONS Westbury 2nd suffered a 174-run defeat to Warminster 3rd following a fine display from Matt Greatly with the bat and ball.

The all-rounder struck 95 to help Warminster post 252-8 before taking 4-12 from nine overs as the visitors were skittled for 78.

Division Eight

SWINDON Nalgo 2nd were crowned champions following their 26-run success over Calne 2nd.

With Trowbridge 3rd having already completed their campaign the previous week, Nalgo went into the game knowing that they needed to secure a minimum of six points, while Calne could have pipped both to the title with a big points haul and by restricting their hosts to just a couple of points.

Nalgo batted first and posted 186-9 to secure five of the six points required by bowling the visitors out for 160 to get the party started.

Division Nine

JACK Lowe’s unbeaten 83 for Devizes 3rd was not enough to prevent his side, who were bowled out for 174, falling to a five-wicket loss against Westbury 3rd, who saw Jason Steele (65) and Paul Gainey (51) lead the way.