MARLBOROUGH suffered a narrow three-wicket defeat at the hands of Westbury in their opening game of the season.

Arran Dickinson top scored for the visitors with 128 but that was not enough to stop Westbury who secured their victory within 46 overs.

“I think it’s fair to say that we’ve come to Westbury and competed with a team that will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season and we should be pleased with the performance,” said Marlborough captain Tom Jacques.

“Arran (Dickinson) produced a quality firm innings which got us out of a fair bit of trouble at the start.”

Marlborough were put into bat by their hosts and couldn’t have got off to a worse start with the loss of Rob Atkinson and James Richardson, both to Andy Carroll, in the second over for 0 and with only two on the scoreboard.

Arran Dickinson joined Jacques at the wicket and the pair set about rebuilding the Marlborough innings with an 82 run partnership before Jacques departed for 32 just before the drinks break.

Pete Day replaced Jacques and he and Dickinson had added a further 79 runs to the score when Day was caught and bowled by Ronald Defraitas for 24 in the 40th over.

Dickinson, batting freely, continued to turn the scoreboard over with the incoming Brad Frost as they added another 55 runs to the total before Dickinson was bowled for 128 in the 46th over with the score on 220.

Marlborough’s lower order and tail were then dismissed over the next four overs, but not before adding 37 runs to the score.

Westbury in reply got off to a steady start and they had taken the score to 32 before Dan Gill was run out by Jacques in the eighth over.

Westbury continued to bat steadily and with Marlborough keeping a grip of the run rate the game was finely balanced at the drinks interval with Westbury on 116-3.

Lydon Gibbons put Westbury in the driving seat after the break as they added 72 runs for the loss of only one wicket as Gibbons was eventually bowled for 127 in the 37th over by Ben Head before the hosts secured the win in the 46th over.

Meanwhile Purton secured a 63-run win over Great Bedwyn in their opening game of the season.

Neil Little top scored for the visitors with 52 as Purton posted 205, then Tom Bowler picked up five wickets as Great Bedwyn were dismissed for 142.

Malmesbury lost their opening game of the campaign as they fell to a 83 run defeat, failing to chase down a target of 265 set by Winsley.