EVERYTHING was coming up roses for Swindon on Saturday as a potentially tricky clash with Trowbridge quickly turned into a walk in the park.

Andy Staff’s side played host to their county rivals, expecting a tough test in their bid to secure a third win on the spin, but a sensational bowling display saw Swindon tear Trowbridge to shreds before consummately strolling to victory.

Cameron Baden and Douglas Baartman were the hosts’ chief destroyers and Swindon’s Jon Sore savoured seeing his team pluck a performance right out of the top drawer, even if their supremacy came as something of a surprise.

“We definitely weren’t expecting that,” said Sore.

“We thought that it was going to be a really tough game and when Andy lost the toss, we were pretty sceptical and thinking that it was going to be a long day’s play, really.

“But credit to the bowlers because they were brilliant – they just took the game by the scruff of the neck and made it easy for the batsmen.

“Cameron Baden set the tone by taking a wicket with the first ball that he bowled and it all just carried on from there.

“I think everything just clicked for us and in cricket, that doesn’t happen that often. We had one great run-out and took some really good catches, which, on another day, we might not have taken.

“Even at half-time, when we’d bowled them out for a low score, we were wondering if it was still going to be a bit tricky because you never know what’s going to happen but it was quite easy for our batsmen in the end.”

Trowbridge winning the toss conjured up little success for the visitors, who saw their wickets claimed time and again by a rampant Swindon bowling attack.

Trowbridge’s first six wickets, including that of captain Mike Reynolds (9), all fell for just 48 runs, with Kyle Oakley and Luke Seymour (both 19) offering the most resistance.

Baden starred for Swindon with fine figures of 5-28 whilst Baartman claimed 3-39 as their opponents were dismissed for 121 early in the 34th over.

The home side required little more than 17 overs to knock off the runs required for their hefty success, with Sore hitting an unbeaten 47.

Fellow opener Sean Parker fell after a run-a-ball 36 but Alex Kill stood on 25 not out as Swindon cruised to 122-1, barely breaking a sweat along the way.