SWINDON slipped closer to the drop zone following a 60-run defeat at Gloucester City Winget.

With second-from-bottom Tewkesbury also securing a surprise two-wicket win at home to second-placed Chippenham, Swindon’s position in Glos/Wilts Division lies in a precarious state.

Hosts Gloucester won the toss and elected to bat and that soon looked like a bad decision when opening batsman Adam Picton was caught by Swindon captain Andrew Staff off the bowling of Tom Codling for a duck.

However, Richard Howell (83) and skipper Scott Montgomery (35) helped to steady the ship for the home side.

Swindon had the home side on the ropes again when Howell was caught by Jonathan Sore with the score at 193-4. Tom Collinson soon followed him to the pavilion without scoring and he was then joined by Noah Cooper Llanes for a duck.

The visitors could not shake the tail, however, and Craig Collinson (75) saw Gloucester to 285 all out.

In reply, Swindon’s top four all failed to get themselves in after making starts as Will Crook (3-28) claimed the scalps of Marc Williamson (24), Sore (20) and Matt Drakeley (6).

Paul Paginton (48) and Liam Tucker, with 63 off just 61 balls, both showed some resilience in the middle order but they were unable to prevent Swindon slumping to defeat as they finished their innings on 225-9.

A 191-run second-wicket stand was enough to sink Purton at Calne in the Wiltshire Division.

Sean Adams’ unbeaten 109, supported by James Watson (94), helped the hosts to set Aaron Lee’s side a target of 285 for the loss of just three wickets.

The visitors lost Sam Shelford for a second-ball duck as Joseph Clare (6-57) ripped through the opening five batsman as Purton crumbled to 126 all out.