ROYAL Wootton Bassett failed to convert a winning position during Saturday’s trip to Corsham 2nd as their tough run in WEPL Wiltshire continued with a four-run defeat.

Darren Beasant’s side had suffered five defeats in six games prior to this weekend’s contest, but looked well placed to claim a return to form when just 19 runs shy of their target of 176 with four wickets in hand.

However, 157-6 became 171 all out as Corsham’s Jack Humphreys (3-32) dismantled the Bassett tail.

Captain Beasant said: “We will look back on it and think it is a game we should have won.

“At one stage, I think we needed to get 40 runs off 10 overs with five wickets in hand.

“In that situation, you have got to think of yourselves as favourites to get home – and nine times out of 10, you would.

“We are in a tough spell at the moment, and knew the second half of the season was going to a difficult because of the amount of players that we were going to be without.

“We don’t have a very experienced side at the moment. We have got a lot of players who haven’t played a lot of first-team cricket.

“You don’t need to try to hit every ball to the boundary when you only need four an over, so a few more players with that little bit of knowhow probably would have made the difference on Saturday.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have that at the moment.”

Asanka Vithanage took four wickets for Bassett and Sam Lawro claimed three as they restricted Corsham to 175 all out, with Mark Hick top-scoring on 56.

Jack Twine then led the visitors’ reply with 39, but Bassett’s run chase ultimately came up short.

Elsewhere, Adam Tucker took a magnificent seven wickets as Swindon continued their winning run with a third on the spin by thrashing Devizes by 151 runs at home.

Captain Alex Kill won the toss and opted to bat first, and Liam Tucker (69), Adam Tucker (54 not out) and Sean Parker (49) led them to a strong 270-8 off 50 overs.

Adam Tucker then followed up his unbeaten knock with a stunning bowling display, returning figures of 7-31 to decimate the Devizes reply for 119 inside 35 overs.

Purton had a day to forget with the bat, being skittled for just 80 to suffer a 183-run loss at second-in-the-table Chippenham.

Adeesha Nanayakkara scored 116 to help Chippenham post 263-8, with Neil Little picking up four wickets for Purton.

Aaron Lee’s side were all at sea in reply, though, and five wickets from Lee Ward saw the visitors all out inside 24 overs.

Finally, Lechlade remain at the foot of the Premier Two Glos/Wilts table after an 11th defeat in 14 matches, going down by five wickets at home to Rockhampton.

Lechlade were bowled out for 179 after being asked to bat first by the visitors, who then needed 34 overs to chase that down, finishing on 182-5.