Wiltshire League Div Three
Seagry 130 all out
Swindon United Churches 256-7
SWINDON United Churches won by 126 runs in the sweltering heat at Seagry on Saturday. The margin of victory owed much to a quartet of stellar performances with bat and ball.

Returning captain Richard Martin won a fortuitous toss of the coin and asked Seagry to field first in the afternoon sun. Opening bowlers Alan Norman and Will Tidmarsh started well for the hosts, removing Jimmy Mann (9) and Daniel Hunt (1) cheaply to leave Churches on 45-2 from 10 overs.

Remaining opener Matt Runkel (79 retired not out off 119 balls) rode his luck en route to a first half-century of the 2017 season, and Churches will be pleased to see him back in the runs.

Supported by a rapid 63 by number four Chris Gilchrist, the pair put on a partnership of 102 before Gilchrist departed to the bowling P Lewis.

Mark Defty (4) and Martin Garstang (9) didn’t trouble the scorers for long, allowing Matthew Shadwick (22*) and Bilal Hussain (30) to guide Churches up to 256-7 from 45 overs. Rich Martin also chipped in with a quick-fire 17*.

For Seagry, Mike Hunt (3-56) bowled well at the end to claim three wickets.

Seagry’s pursuit of 257 to win started well, with A Merreti (10), C Grace (41) and S Thomsett (35) all contributing to a healthy position at 89-1. Chris Spackman grabbed the visitors only wicket in the opening 20 overs.

The introduction of off-spinner Jimmy Mann (4-20) had the desired effect, taking the wickets of Thomsett and Paul Lewis (0) in his first two balls. Daniel Hunt took a stunning one-handed catch at mid-off to dismiss Lewis.

Hunt’s figures of 4-18, coupled with Mann’s wickets from the other end, brought about a swift end to the Seagry innings for 130 inside 35 overs.

The 23-point win keeps Churches in third position in Wiltshire League Division Three, 20 points behind leaders White Horse.

On Saturday, Churches welcome fifth-placed Heytesbury & Sutton Veny to Sevenhampton, hoping to extend their winning run to three games.