SWINDON 2nd opened their Division One campaign with a 138-run win over Lacock.

Off the back of victories against Potterne 2nd and Lechlade 2nd in pre-season, the good Swindon form continued as they reached 253-6 off their 45 overs.

Despite losing league debutant Nathan White for a duck, a second-wicket stand of 127 steadied the ship. John Baden fell 10 short of a century, while Sean Parker (63) and Paul Davies (52 not out) also weighed in.

Tom Husband and Sam Husband stymied Lacock’s reply at 115 all out, Husband taking two wickets on his debut, while Connor O’Shea and Scott McNeil took three wickets apiece.

Division Two

BEEHIVE’S Clive Warren hit a club-best 190 in just 136 balls as his side battered local rivals Bradford on Avon by 176 runs at Southwick.

Warren, who clubbed 32 fours and four sixes, set the tone by hitting successive boundaries from three balls in the opening over and brought up his 50 off just 26 deliveries as his side reached 95 without loss from 10 overs.

Sharing an opening stand of 149 with Neil Harber (26), he reached his century off just 69 balls and surpassed the previous club best of 174 from Mike Spong, who later joined him and reached 65.

Grant Savides hit an unbeaten 43 to push his side to 344-3 in total.

Tony Burrows' 48 was the highlight of Bradford’s innings but wickets fell steadily as James Taylor took 4-14, Gary Collins 2-34 and Dan Thomas 2-21, with the innings ending at 167 in the 41st over.

Having been put in, Biddestone 2nd scored 218-7 against Swindon Nalgo, captain Rhys Merriman top scoring with 71, James Bartlett adding 39, Tom Ellaway 28 and Charlie Quarrell an unbeaten 25.

Two wickets apiece for Tom Sorsby, Phil Knight, Nathan Caddell and James Bartlett dismissed Nalgo for 204 in 40 overs.

Division Three

SWINDON United Churches made it two wins out of two with a dominant 168-run victory at Collingbourne.

The margin of victory was largely down to the efforts of Chris Gilchrist, who struck 134, and Bilal Hussain, who returned figures of 5-19 from seven overs, while Danny Hunt also added 52.

Gilchrist reached his tally off 94 deliveries with 18 fours and four sixes.

Three early wickets from the excellent Chris Spackman (2-44) and Rich Martin (1-13) severely dented the Collingbourne chase, as the hosts found themselves at 36-3 in the eighth over.

Owen Shepherd (23 from 70 balls) and Karl Gingell (37 from 30 balls) briefly threatened to take the game deep, but the introduction of Tom Burford (1-27) and Hussain, who bowled four of his five victims, brought about a Collingbourne collapse to 121 all out inside 31 overs.

Division Four

COMBE Down won their opening fixture against a youthful Corsham 3rd side at the Glasshouse.

Asked to bat first, Corsham posted a workmanlike 148-9 in their 45 overs, with Gareth Unwin top-scoring with 27 Down were wobbling at 30-4 in reply, but Ian Bleakley’s unbeaten 58 brought them to a winning 149-6 in the 37th over despite the best efforts of Will Sayers (3-15).

Division Five

ALEX Horn took 3-25 and Martin Hewitt 3-32 as Biddestone 3rd bowled their Goatacre counterparts out for 107 in 39 overs.

Biddestone subsequently knocked off the runs for the loss of four wickets inside 30 overs, Graham Horn hitting an unbeaten 48 and Chris Meggs 40 despite Steve Boyle taking 3-25.

Melksham travelled to Burbage & Easton Royal 2nd for their first game of the season and struggled to make the breakthrough against the Burbage openers.

A change of bowling did the trick as Jack Footner broke the partnership and regular wickets restricted Burbage to 229-8 from their 45 overs, Craig Simmons hitting 44.

Russ Collins was the pick of the bowlers with 3-40 from his nine overs but in reply, Melksham lost their openers early which brought Joe Veacock and Collins to the middle.

The run chase was looking good until Veacock was adjudged LBW for 39, and with Collins run out on 42.

Regular wickets followed as Melksham couldn’t keep their momentum and were eventually all out for 169, Charlie Green taking 4-28.

Division Six

JAMES Dunford hit a magnificent 205 not out and shared a partnership of 230 with teammate Gary Rogers (72) as Devizes 2nd racked up a massive 301-run triumph over Potterne 4th.

Batting first, Devizes amassed 345 from their 45 overs, as Dunford dominated the innings before John Dunford playing a decisive part with the ball, taking 4-19 as Potterne were all out for 44 runs in the 16th over.

Joe Hutchinson took 3-11 and George Dunford 3-13.

Division Seven

CLUB chairman Chris Warren and Ash Rendall put on 109 for the fifth wicket for Beehive 2nd in their clash with Corsham 4th at Leafy Lane, Rudloe.

Earlier Dan Veale had made 51, but Beehive looked on the brink of collapse at 102-4 before Warren (88 not out) and Rendall (65) weighed in.

Gareth Lapham’s 36 not out pushed his side to 290-5.

Wickets fell at regular intervals in the Corsham reply, Lapham continuing his good performance with 2-16 as the hosts ended on 123-9.