IN cricket more than any other team sport, individual mental discipline is absolutely paramount to a side’s success.

Settling down into a three, four or five-hour knock, getting past the odd careless shot and soaking up pressure are qualities of top cricketers.

So Swindon captain Liam Tucker was delighted with the psychological resolve and general stamina of his players, as they grabbed victory from the gaping jaws of defeat to Biddestone at the County Ground on Saturday.

Second and third in the WEPL Glos/Wilts Division prior to the start of play, both sides knew a loss was likely to mean the end of their challenge for promotion to Premier 2.

And with that in mind it was unlikely either would let up in what steadily evolved into a superb advert for local cricket.

In the end Biddestone, poised beautifully needing 10 runs with two wickets in hand, decided to shoot themselves in both feet at the death.

Swindon took advantage to sneak through to the most dramatic of wins, and Tucker was ecstatic.

“It was great to see the boys getting the win in that way,” he said.

“When you lose a game like that it is always quite hard to take, but to win it feels great.

“We had to get past a few hurdles but in the end it is a really important win for us and we are very happy about it.”

Batting first under glorious skies, Swindon were stung at the top of the innings when Marc Williamson was dismissed by Chris Baker but Paul Paginton and John Baden came together to see off the new ball.

Baden has suffered from a drought of runs for most of 2011, but the powerful number three was in his element - cutting and driving his way to 50.

While Paginton was trapped lbw by Naeem Khan and Adam Tribbick followed suit just two balls later, Baden stood tall.

He and Will Nichols progressed the score beyond 150 before Baden was caught by Martin Sawyer off Jamie Penton, but by then he had accumulated 80 quick runs.

Tucker was pleased for the veteran, after a trying year.

“We all know that John has it in him to get runs like that,” he said.

“He hasn’t had the best year but we know he’s got the talent and it was good to see him in the runs again.

“They came at a run a ball as well which was good for us, but they weren’t through any big, aggressive shots. It was a really good innings.”

Once Baden was back in the hutch, Nichols anchored the late-innings rally which eventually pushed Swindon to 223-7 from their 50 overs - a competitive score.

Ten overs into the Biddestone reply, it seemed the hosts had the match wrapped up.

Biddestone had staggered to 34-4, with Dwaine Perry, Sawyer, Andy Flynn and Matthew Green all dismissed cheaply, and George Rigali and Nichols flying in, tails up.

But anyone writing off the visitors with fully 40 overs remaining had clearly forgotten Shaun Liebisch.

The big-hitting import switched the balance of the game firmly in Biddestone’s favour with a series of lusty blows on his way to 105.

His partnership with Penton had seen his side to the edge of victory, but when he rashly chose to dance down the wicket to Asanka Vithanage and was stumped with ease by Andy Staff behind the stumps, Biddestone were once again vulnerable.

And Rigali took advantage, getting rid of last man Chris Baker with the away side still three runs short of their target.

“It was definitely a great game to be involved in, and it shows how close the league is,” said Tucker.

“We aren’t giving up on catching Goatacre but it is going to require a big slip-up from them.

“All we can do now is going out to win games and we’ll do our best to make sure we just keep on doing that.”