WOOTTON Bassett captain Darren Beasant spoke of his relief after his side emerged through the Penhill minefield with an impressive haul of 21 points on Saturday.

Bassett’s clash with Swindon NALGO was played in difficult conditions following overnight rain, with the green-tinged strip offering plenty of favours for both sides’ seam attacks.

However, a gritty 74 from Sam Lawro and smaller contributions from much of the visitors’ top order helped Bassett to 219-9 from their 45 overs, before they skittled NALGO for 166.

Beasant rated the batting display as the “best collective” effort of the campaign from his side, who kept pace with Malmesbury at the top of the leaguie table with the victory.

“There was a sense of relief, driving away at eight o’clock on Saturday night. We didn’t have an awful lot go our way, I think is the polite way to describe my feelings about Saturday. We turned up and got stuck in on a wicket which is something like we thought it would be,” he said.

“To get 220 is probably our best collective batting performance of the season. We had contributions all the way through. When we turned up and looked at it I’m not sure you’d have thought it was a 120 wicket, let alone a 220 wicket, so we were pretty pleased with that.

“Maybe we could have got a few more, we didn’t get the rub of the green with a few decisions, but that happens. We had to be pleased with the application the guys showed. There were balls popping off a length, going over people’s heads and people getting hit left, right and centre. It was a tough one to bat on.”

Latif Hussein took 4-39 for NALGO, while Imran Dastigir hit an unbeaten 35 for the home side, but they were eventually beaten by 53 runs. With Malmesbury picking up 24 points at Beanacre & Melksham, Bassett lost a little ground on the table-toppers, but Beasant couldn’t find any fault in his team’s display.

“We lost a couple of points but to go there, in those conditions, and walk away with 21 points - I can’t have any complaints,” he said. “It hasn’t really changed the prognosis. We have to win every game and if we do we’ll win the league.

“It would be nice to be on top but we’ve still got the same thing to do.”