DIVISION 1

WOOTTON Bassett captain Darren Beasant was pleased that his side came through their season-opener with a win but was left to rue dropped points.

Bassett finished second in the league last term - 27 points adrift of champions Malmesbury.

But the Rylands Way side are determined to claim as many of the bonus points on offer as they possibly can this year.

However, some rash shots and poor decision-making meant that Bassett could only claim a five-wicket win over newly promoted Beckington.

“Five wickets was still pretty emphatic but to be honest, it should have eight or nine,” Beasant said. “We lost a couple of wickets, which we shouldn’t have done - I stupidly got myself out.

“We talked before the game about taking maximum points from every game, even if we lose, so while it was good to take 21 points, it should have been 22 or 23.”

Beckington managed to post 221-8 from their 45 overs, with new signing Asanka Vithanage the pick of the attack, claiming 3-32.

Then, youngster Jack Twine opened the batting for the first time alongside Sam Lawro as they made a good start to the reply.

While Twine was dismissed in his forties, Lawro was back in the pavilion four short of his century.

“It was a fine innings from Sam,” Beasant added.

“He was fantastic and deserved a century, but Beckington are a decent side and I think that they will do well this season.”

  • DOMINIC O’Neill struck a blistering 46-ball unbeaten 84 to lead Nationwide House to a seven-wicket success at Box on their return to the Wiltshire League following their relegation from the West of England Premier League last term.

Nationwide, having won the toss and elected to field, restricted their hosts to 151-9, with Joe Perkins picking up 3-23 from 10 overs while Box wicketkeeper Johnny Page top-scored with 51.

However, Nationwide’s reply got off to a shaky start as they slumped to 32-3 - Roger Pettifer, Nick Clarke and skipper Jonathon Clarke all scoring 11 - before O’Neill, who struck seven fours and seven sixes in his innings, and wicketkeeper Luke Bradley (22 not out), took charge and saw the visitors home with more than 19 overs to spare.

  • SWINDON Civil Service fell to an 84-run defeat to Urchfont.

The visitors posted 271-6 in their 45 overs but they then restricted Civil Service to 187-5, despite Painter’s unbeaten 64 and Batchelor’s 53.

  • HINTON Charterhouse welcomed the new season in with an emphatic 154-run win over a depleted Beanacre and Melksham.

Put in to bat, Hinton advanced to 118-0 thanks to Richard Newport, who was bowled by Steve Rendell for 50, and Chris Antrobus, who went to make a cultured 97 before being dismissed by seamer Ben Brown - who finished with figures of 4-67.

However, it was John Newport with a blistering 50-ball 90, which included five sixes, who propelled the hosts to an imposing 277-7.

The Beanacre reply stalled in the face of tight bowling from medium pacers Liam Taylor (1-21) and James Jacob, the latter delivering 12 immaculate overs, taking 2-18.

The way was then open for spinners Mike Abington (4-26) and Dave Bowden (3-25) to finish off the job - Brown top scoring for Beanacre with 35 as they were dismissed for 123.

DIVISION 2

WITHOUT the two leading run scorers of the past two seasons, Swindon United Churches’ batting looked a little fragile in countering Avebury’s strength.

However, a dogged 23 from 89 balls by opener Keith Coatsworth held the Churches innings together against Avebury’s recent South African overseas signing Hartleef, who claimed 2-5 in his opening 10 over spell.

At one point, Churches were 26-4 but a partnership of 55 for the sixth wicket between Matt Shadwick and Richard Martin rallied the cause.

Captain Martin saw out the innings with an unbeaten 40 as Churches closed on 150-9.

In the field, Churches enjoyed mixed fortunes as Chris Spackman worked up real pace with the new ball but had two early catches dropped.

Chasing 151, Avebury reached 101 for the loss of only one wicket by the 22nd over.

Dominic Fry was merciless on anything short but fell quickly after drinks as Spackman produced a full length unplayable delivery and then he tempted Hartleef to fish outside off-stump with the next ball, which saw wicketkeeper Martin Garstang take a fine catch before Henry Fry fell to a ball that kept low.

However, with only 35 runs required at less than two an over, and six wickets in hand, Avebury still looked favourites for the win.

But accurate spells from Shadwick and Martin regularly helped Churches back into the game and then Chris Gilchrist handed them the unlikely four-run win when he found the edge of Rama, which was comfortably taken by Garstang.

DIVISION 6

MARSHFIELD thirds began their campaign with a trip to newcomers Urchfont seconds and skipper Richard Guy opted to take the new ball after winning the toss.

However, Urchfont put on 73 for the first wicket as they pounced on any loose deliveries from Mark Dixon and Andrew Pierce.

Following the drinks break, Chris Middup and man-of-the-match Derek Watkins were brought into the attack and kept the hosts at around three-an-over.

Urchfont attempted to increase the rate but were left reeling following a simple run-out before Watkins picked up two quick wickets as the hosts closed on 151-7.

Marshfield skipper Guy and Mike Threadgill put on 73 for the opening wicket in reply before the former was run out by Peter Strong.

Andy Wills then joined Threadgill, who retired unbeaten on 19, at the crease before Sandra Rouse and Charles Harris were quickly dismissed as Marshfield were reduced to 103-3.

Wills was then trapped leg before for 23 and then Watkins (23*) and Middup (11*) saw the visitors home.