Wiltshire League Div Three
Swindon United Churches 139-3
Heytesbury & Sutton Veny 138 all out
SWINDON United Churches beat Heytesbury & Sutton Veny by seven wickets on Saturday, making it three Wiltshire League wins on the trot in the process.

The 23-point victory keeps the Sevenhampton-based side third in the table behind Chippenham 2nds and White Horse.

Captain Richard Martin won the toss and chose to bowl first on a firm pitch. Martin (1-25) and fellow opening bowler Chris Spackman (3-40) got Churches off to the dream start, removing Kitley (8), Read (16) and Grant (20) to leave the visitors on 53-3 after 12 overs.

First-change bowler Alan Boivin (3-34) replaced Spackman down the hill and quickly got into the swing of things, claiming the wickets of K Robson (0) and R Robson (6) to make it 55-5. A partnership of 28 between Gask (28) and Dalby (8) then frustrated Churches until Boivin had Dalby caught behind by Martin Garstang.

Chris Spackman returned to the attack to grab Gask’s wicket and Heytesbury & Sutton Veny were reeling at 98-7.

All-rounder Chris Gilchrist (3-13) helped mop up the tail-enders, despite dogged resistance from Barnes (22) and Frost (8). The visitors were all out for 138 from 40.1 overs.

After tea, Jimmy Mann (51) and Matt Shadwick (15) blunted the Heytesbury & Sutton Veny opening bowlers, putting on a 54 partnership. When spinner Read removed Shadwick caught behind, this brought Danny Hunt (40) to the crease and he played freely, striking four fours and one six.

Barnes picked up the wickets of Mann and Hunt in his second spell to leave Churches on 115-3, 24 runs short of the victory target. Chris Gilchrist (15*) and Mark Defty (8*) finished the job quickly, with the two teams shaking hands after 31.2 overs.

Churches hope to become the first side to defeat Chippenham 2nds this season when they travel to their promotion rivals on Saturday.