WOOTTON Bassett secured an emphatic 113-run victory over Winsley to close the gap on their rivals at the top of the Wiltshire Division to less than one point.

Bassett's 184-7 proved far too testing for the visitors, who slipped to a first defeat of the summer with a reply of 71.

Bassett 2nd XI cruised to an even bigger win in the reverse fixture at the Downs as they crushed Winsley by 115 runs.

D Griffin (65) and A Ali (49) were the major contributors with the bat as Bassett amassed 216-9.

Winsley skipper G Lunt (46) played a captain's innings but saw his side crumble around him as Bassett dismissed their hosts for 101.

Elsewhere in the Wiltshire Division, Ejaz Khan (88) and Paul Godding (84) inspired Lechlade to a match-winning total of 236 against Hinton Charterhouse.

Anthony Pettifer took 3-12 with the ball as Hinton Charterhouse limped to 156-8 in reply.

Nationwide House continue to struggle, losing by 131 runs to Great Bedwyn, who totalled 261-8.

Only tail-ender Mark Morris (34) emerged with any credit in his side's 130 all out.

The derby clash between Purton and Malmesbury fell foul of the weather, as did Swindon's match against Chippenham at Haredenhuish Park in the Glos/Wilts Division.

Swindon 2nds lost by 17 runs in the reverse fixture at the County Ground.

Goatacre managed to dodge the rain showers in the Forest of Dean, but couldn't avoid a thrashing against Lydney.

The Gloucestershire outfit, who had been skittled for totals of 35 and 67 in the last two weeks, easily overhauled Goatacre's 190 for the loss of just four wickets.

Andrew Hampton's defiant 52 was the only bright spot in a dour batting display by Marshfield, who managed just 108 against Gloucester City Winget.

Paul Carter replied with a half-century for Gloucester to see his side home by seven wickets.

SATURDAY RESULTS

NORTH GEAR WEST OF ENGLAND PREMIER LEAGUE Glos/Wilts Division: Goatacre 190 Lydney 191-4, Lydney won by six wickets; Marshfield 108 (Andrew Hampton 52) Gloucester City Winget 109-3 (Paul Carter 50), Gloucester City won by seven wickets; Marlborough 161-7 (Peter Day 57 not out) Hatherley & Reddings 146-8 (Ben Head 4-15, George Fox 3-48), Hatherley & Reddings won by two wickets (rain reduced target); Chippenham v Swindon, match abandoned; Biddestone v Warminster, match cancelled.

Wiltshire Division: Lechlade 236 (Ejaz Khan 88, Paul Godding 84) Hinton Charterhouse 156-8 (Anthony Pettifer 3-12), Lechlade won by 80 runs; Wootton Bassett 184-7 Winsley 71, Wootton Bassett won by 113 runs; Great Bedwyn 261-8 (Robert Palmer 142, Joe Perkins 4-48) Nationwide House 130 (Mark Morris 34, Robert Palmer 6-36); Devizes 204 (Nipuna Rathnayake 137 not out, Jon Cleverly 6-17) Westinghouse 152 (Steve Coombs 41); Purton v Malmesbury, match cancelled.

Glos/Wilts (2nd XI): Chippenham 158 Swindon 141, Chippenham won by 17 runs; Biddestone 41 (Simon Dillon 4-24, Edward Qulech 3-6, Martin Bridle 3-9) Warminster 42-1, Warminster won by nine wickets; Goatacre v Lydney, Hatherley & Reddings v Marlborough, Marshfield v Gloucester City Winget, all cancelled.

Wiltshire Division (2nd XI): Hinton Charterhouse 101 (Richard Wells 37, Alan Heath 4-16) Lechlade 102-0 (Ashok Gandhi 55 not out, Henry Whitby 37 not out), Lechlade won by 10 wickets; Purton 204-4 (Chris Newman 59 not out, Ben Collier 56) Malmesbury 191-9 (Peter Hazell 40, David Bray 5-23), Purton won by 13 runs; Wootton Bassett 216-9 (D Griffin 65, A Ali 49, Matt Henley 5-75) Winsley 101 (G Lunt 46) Wootton Bassett won by 115 runs; Nationwide House v Great Bedwyn, match abandoned; Westinghouse v Devizes, match cancelled.