A REMARKABLE one-run win for Avebury blew the Wiltshire Cricket League Division One title race wide open, after table toppers Great Bedwyn lost out to Swindon 2nd.

Only 10 points now separate the two teams with three fixtures remaining in the season – suggesting the destination of this year’s title is likely to go down to the final week.

Avebury were in action at home to Malmesbury, while bottom-half Swindon travelled to Bedwyn.

Following heavy doses of rain, Avebury’s 156-7 appeared to be a respectable score on balance.

Opener Sam Underhill (51) starred but only middle-order batsman Greg Rix (20) could hit more than 17 runs as Rob Gater, Henry Fry and Dominic Fry were sent back to the pavilion cheaply.

Malmesbury’s Ben Oakley stood out with the ball, taking 2-31 from his nine overs.

Malmesbury looked set to record only their fourth win of the season when chasing a revised 151 from 42 overs.

The visitors’ innings got off to a fine start – Michael Collison (53) posted a half-century before Lawrie Hughes’ mid-innings knock of 30 steadied the ship.

Harry Rogers (23) and Richard Gaunt (11) did well to edge Malmesbury to within two runs of their target, but tail-ender Philip Cook fell for a duck to gift Avebury a one-run victory with only three balls spare.

Avebury’s 23 points secured helped the title chasers pull back 13 points on Bedwyn, who could only secured 10 in their loss at home to Swindon.

Nick Davies (61) and Sam Tuttle (46) guided Bedwyn to 180 all out from – a total Swindon reached with seven balls to spare having lost five wickets.

Cameron Oliver delivered a match-winning performance for Swindon, taking 5-40.

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Chippenham 2nd suffered a surprise loss to second-from-bottom Winsley, while Beckington beat Marlborough by five wickets with three overs to spare.

Third-placed Corsham 2nd were restricted to only 11 points after their visit to Nationwide House was abandoned.

Division Two

THE weather played its part in the second tier, with two of the four fixtures cancelled due to rain.

This was to the frustration of Swindon NALGO, who lost top spot to Burbage & Easton Royal 2nd.

NALGO’s home tie against Beehive Southwick was called off, meaning both teams collected eight points.

But Burbage & Easton Royal’s convincing win at home to Warminster 2nd earned them 23 points – securing them top spot with two fixtures remaining.

Warminster were bowled out for just 130 in less than 34 overs – Alby Berridge doing most of the damage by picking up 4-20.

Burbage never really wobbled in reply – Crofton Keyes (4) was the only batsman not to hit double figures as the hosts passed their target with more than 14 overs spare.

Box also jumped up the table into fifth after they dispatched of Biddestone 2nd by 123 runs.

Stephan Hall (61) starred with the bat as Box hit 201-9 before Biddestone 2 were bowled out for 60 – opener Thomas Walker top scoring with 16.

Goatacre 2nd’s game at home to Swindon United Churches was also cancelled.

Division Three

ONLY one fixture fell victim to the weather – with relegation looking increasingly likely for White Horse after they were forced to call off their match against Swindon 3rd, leaving them four points short of second-from-bottom Marshfield 2nd.

At the top of the table, though, Trowbridge 2nd continued their fine form by beating Potterne 3rd by 97 runs.

A sensational 192 not out from Ismail Suleman guided the hosts to a huge 299, before Potterne – set 248 to win from 32 overs – could only reach 150-5.

However, Trowbridge’s lead at the top has been cut to 37 points, after Bradford-on-Avon recorded 22 when beating Lacock by 55 runs.

In other results, Heytesbury & Sutton Veny defeated Keevil by seven wickets, while Marshfield 2nd won at home to Chippenham 3rd by eight wickets.

Division Four

ROYAL Wootton Bassett 2nd have granted themselves a chance at poaching top spot after clawing back 12 points to table-topping Devizes 2nd.

Devizes were dealt a blow when their trip to Melksham was called off, but Bassett suffered from no such ill-fortune and cashed in to by Wanborough by six wickets.

Combined, Wanborough’s John Baldwin and Keegan Lane hit 80 runs, but the rest of the team could only post 61 runs as the hosts collapsed to 141 all out.

Bassett chased down the target with ease, knocking off a reduced target of 95 from 30 overs with 60 balls to spare.

Other results saw Combe Down and Ramsbury record victories against Marlborough 2nd and Corsham 3rd respectively.

Wroughton Wranglers’ home tie against Nationwide House 2nd was cancelled without a ball being bowled.

Division Six

NO PLAY was possible during Blunsdon’s trip to Malmesbury 2nd, meaning the Swindon side remain under threat of relegation and drop to second from bottom in the table.