CENTURIES from Tom Abbott and Will Wales helped Wiltshire League Division One leaders Corsham 2nd to a 21-run success over Malmesbury.

Opener Abbott shared a 167-run third wicket stand with Wales before he was dismissed for 117 off 103 balls, where he hit 15 fours and three sixes.

Wales, meanwhile, was stumped for a 90-ball 104 before Corsham declared on 269-4 after 43 overs.

The hosts then reduced Malmesbury to 143-5 after 27 overs before the heavens opened with Corsham 21 runs ahead on Duckworth/Lewis.

Elsewhere in Division One, Swindon 2nd closed in on second placed Winsley, who had their game with Avebury abandoned, following their 34-run Duckworth/Lewis win over Bear Flat with John Baden hitting 56 for victors, while Box enjoyed a 69-run success over Nationwide House.

Division Two

BIDDESTONE 2nd suffered an eight-wicket loss to Bath Hospital after being skittled for 95.

Rob Horn top scored for the hosts with 33 with Bath’s Toby Patrick (4-32) and Bill Minchin (2-6) the chief destroyers.

The visitors required just 20 overs to reach their target with Horn and Kieran Gash picking up a wicket apiece for Biddestone.

Division Three SWINDON United Churches were denied the chance to defend their impressive total of 288-7 against Potterne 3rd.

Persistent rain meant that the match was abandoned after 3.4 overs of the Potterne’s innings with the hosts on 30-1.

The 11 points gained leaves the Sevenhampton-based side second in the table, nine points behind leaders Chippenham 2nd.

After being invited to bat first, Churches openers Jimmy Mann and Matt Shadwick shared a 195-run first wicket stand.

Mann went on to hit his highest score for the club with 138 off 109 balls, hitting 14 fours and six sixes, while Shadwick struck his maiden half-century in the league before Chris Gilchrist smashed 65 from 29 balls as Churches closed on 288-7.

Rain meant that Potterne were delayed in starting their innings with the hosts set a new target of 199 from 31 overs when play eventually resumed.

However, only 22 balls were possible with Potterne 30-1 before another shower brought the match to a close.

Division Four

COMBE Down claimed a narrow-run home success over Spye Park.

Asked to bat first on a damp track, the hosts were soon a wicket down, but an 86-run partnership between Tom Hulbert and Andy Hulbert (33) repaired the early damage.

Tom Hulbert (156) and Ramkumar Vijayakumar (59 not out) then took on the Spye attack as Combe posted 289-4 from their 45 overs.

With 25 overs required from the Spye innings to constitute a match, the visitors got off to a brisk start as they raced through the opening 20 overs before the first rain break.

The teams managed to return to the field and played 5.1 overs before the rain came again, however, Spye Park were left on 157-3 and were four runs behind the Duckworth/Lewis score.

Ollie Emerson top scored for Spye with 47, while Russell Fletcher hit an unbeaten 46.

Division Five

BIDDESTONE 3rd claimed a 92-run success over Buscot Park following a fine bowling display.

After posting 164-8 from their 45 overs with Joe Panes top scoring with an unbeaten 61, the home bowlers took over.

Tom Sorby led the charge for Biddestone with 3-16 as Buscot were skittled for 72 in 23.2 overs, while Sam Smith picked up 3-27, Martin Hewitt chipped in with 2-16 and Ben Evans also claimed a wicket.

Division Six

MARSHFIELD 2nd thumped third-placed Erlestoke by nine wickets to strengthen their grip at the summit.

The table-toppers bowled the visitors out for 169 with Jim Creed picking up 3-35.

In reply, Andy Jenkins was 63 not out, while Russell Lodge was unbeaten on 62 as Marshfield secured the win in the 34th over.

Division Seven

DESPITE a half-century from Mark Wilson, Highworth suffered a nine-wicket loss at Malmesbury 2nd.

Wilson’s 54 was the cornerstone of Highworth’s 139-9, while Malmesbury’s Brad Toseland claimed 4-13 from nine overs.

The hosts then required less than 29 overs to secure the win with Olly Burke hitting an unbeaten 57.Division Eight ROBERT Finch’s unbeaten 57 helped Trowbridge A to a two-wicket success at Chippenham 4th.

The hosts were restricted to 143-9 from their 45 overs with opener Greg Smith top scoring with 67, while Sahil Basandrai was the pick of the Trowbridge bowlers with 3-14 from eight overs.

The visitors were struggling in their run-chase at 74-5 before Finch came in at number seven and steadied the ship to see his team home in the 44th over.

Division Nine

BUSCOT Park 2nd managed to avenge their first team’s loss to Biddestone 3rd by beating their 4th team by two wickets.

Josh Davies (3-19) and Charlie Symmonds (3-21) shared six wickets between them as Biddestone were bowled out for 108 with Ben Pope (25) and Daniel Pritchett (24) top scoring.

In reply, despite Hal Stringer picking up 4-28, Buscot were indebted to a 49 from Stuart Burchell as they claimed the win.