Wiltshire CCL Div Two

Beehive (Southwick) 155 all out

Swindon Utd Churches 159-1

SWINDON United Churches recorded a resounding nine-wicket victory at Wiltshire League Division Two relegation rivals Beehive (Southwick) on Saturday.

The 24-point win means that Churches are now only 10 points behind Beehive, who are in eighth position in the league.

Chris Spackman (2-16) and stand-in captain Chris Gilchrist (4-27) intimidated Beehive from the outset, as the new ball flew through to the batsmen at chest and head height.

But it was the full swinging balls that claimed the wickets.

Wicket-keeper Martin Garstang and first slip Jimmy Mann snaffled three catches between them as Beehive found themselves on 9-4.

The Beehive middle and lower order batting put up much more resistance against the Churches change bowling.

James Taylor (37) and Daniel Thomas (31) in particular, occupied the crease and frustrated the visitors as the ball got older and the pitch settled down.

Some late hitting from number 10 batsman Pete Andrews (34) got Beehive to 155 all out.

Left-arm seamer Tom Burford (2-13) mopped up the ninth and 10th wickets in the final over of the innings for Churches to claim full bowling bonus points.

After tea, the Churches opening batsmen set about their task in aggressive fashion, going at more than a run-a-ball for the first 10 overs.

Jimmy Mann (79 not out) had a welcome return to form and fellow opener Matt Runkel (30) will be pleased with his display despite holing out to long-on off the bowling of Taylor.

Number three batsman Danny Hunt (36no) joined Mann at the crease and the pair added a partnership of more than 70 to seal the victory in just 27.3 overs.

Returning captain Richard Martin will be hoping that his top order batsmen show the same aptitude when Churches take on Swindon NALGO at Sevenhampton on Saturday.