Wiltshire CCL Div Two

Swindon United Churches 124 all out; Avebury 125-3

FORMER South African first class bowler Wessel Hartslief (5-15) was the difference between the two sides as Avebury romped to a seven-wicket win over Swindon United Churches on Saturday.

Hartslief, who played first class cricket as recently as December, 2012 for South Western Districts, also helped himself to 35* as Avebury completed the chase in double-quick time.

Churches skipper Richard Martin won the toss and elected to bat on a hot day in Avebury. Coatsworth (5) and Hunt (4) fell in the same Hartslief over to leave Churches in trouble at 23-2.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals and despite resistance from Jimmy Mann (21), Richard Martin (16) and Matt Runkel (7), the visitors soon found themselves on a score of 65-6.

Liam Brooks (9) and Dean Tomlin (36) combined to add 38 for the seventh wicket but the return of Hartslief condemned the Churches innings to a sad end at 124 all out after 33.5 overs.

The Avebury openers, Rheinberg (22) and Gater (10), got the hosts off to a rocket start before two quick wickets from Martin (2-36) and Tomlin (1-47) pegged them back. Dominic Fry (26) and Hartslief (35*) remained composed and continued to score at a quick rate as the Churches bowlers couldn’t find the penetration required to force an awkward chase.

The emphatic win takes Avebury to the top of Wiltshire League Division Two on 176 points and Churches now sit in third place on 170 points.

With a home game against Spye Park to come on Saturday, the Sevenhampton-based side will be hoping to return to winning ways.