ROYAL Wootton Bassett re-established their Division One title credentials as they wrapped up an eight-wicket victory against Beckington on Saturday.

Bassett had lost their first top-flight match of the season the previous week against Nationwide House, but had few problems in returning to winning form as Akash Sharma (5-50) and Ajanka Vithanage (3-31) ripped through the Beckington order, dismissing them for 149.

Sam Lawro’s unbeaten 85 helped Bassett home, Sharma adding a knock of 31 not out.

Urchfont remained in touch with the leaders as they put struggling Swindon Civil Service to the sword by nine wickets.

Morlon Simon (4-26) and Toby Dorgan (4-36) did the bulk of the damage as Service were dismissed for 114, Jasper Dorgan’s unbeaten 57 and 44 from David Bromley wrapping up the victory.

Lacock are third after a superb effort from Steve Copland in their four-wicket triumph over Bradford on Avon.

Hosts Bradford were in deep trouble at 40-5 after 16 overs as Lacock’s Leigh Rogers (3-27) and Sam Thomson (2-21) caused havoc.

A 106-run stand between Tony Laws and Kit Chapman, the latter making 68 runs from just 48 balls including six fours and six sixes dug their side out of trouble.

Laws ended 56 not out and late hitting from Chris Hotchen (18) and Dean Bird (10) got the to 190 all out, as Copland took 4-36.

The reply was built around stalwart Copland. Wickets fell around him but he anchored the innings superbly to score 103 before being dismissed in the last over with Lacock still needing six for victory.

For Bradford, Laws bowled a good spell of 2-35 from 12 overs and Bird took one wicket before he was felled by a hard return shot and suffered a fractured thumb.

Thomson rounded off the win with a four and six to secure the points for Lacock.

The pace of Peter Borton caused Beanacre & Melksham early problems against Hinton Charterhouse before a fourth-wicket partnership of 81 between Matt Hunt (62) and Ben Brown (31) helped them to 147-9.

The home side’s bowlers needed to build pressure early and got some joy as Dean Wallington took three early wickets.

Only Borton (43) showed any patience as Hinton were dismissed for 128.

Jonny Page hit an unbeaten 81 as Box notched 186 all out against Nationwide House, Joe Perkins taking 5-36.

Richard Foley took 4-11 in 5.3 overs to ensure the House reply fell well short on 102 all out, despite 37 from Jon Clarke.

Former South African first-class bowler Wes Hartslief (5-15 off 10.5 overs) was the difference between the two sides as Avebury romped to a seven-wicket win over Swindon United Churches and took over at the top of Division Two.

Hartslief, who played first-class cricket as recently as December 2012 for South Western Districts, also helped himself to 35 not out as Avebury completed the chase in double quick time.

Wickets fell at regular intervals in the Churches’ innings, which was at 65-5 at one stage, Dean Tomlin’s 36 helping them to 124 all out Dominic Fry (26) and Hartslief remained composed in the reply to ensure Avebury got home.

Mike Evans struck 77 to set up Wroughton Wranglers’ three-wicket success over Keevil.

Matt Evans (65) had earlier helped Keevil to 199-9, but despite Evans 3-44 in the reply, Wroughton came out on top.

Christy Millar blasted 129 for Swindon A as they reached 264 all out against Spye Park, Wahab Khalid adding 41 as Jon Bathe took 4-57.

Mike Du Bourlay’s 81 anchored the Park reply, which ended on 199 as Richard Smye took 4-49.

Mudasser Rafiq scored 92 of Swindon NALGO’s 181 all out against Heytesbury & Sutton Veny.

Oliver Hares (60) and Graham Kitley (31) formed the bulk of the reply, but 3-39 from Zak Anwar secured a 10-run win for NALFO.

An opening partnership of 99 between Chris Grace (50) and Paul Lewis (42) helped Seagry to 153-7 and a three-wicket Division Three win over Wanborough (150-8), in which Nick Stacey had scored 60.

Wootton Bassett 2nd stayed on the trial of the leaders thanks to an eight-wicket success over Potterne 3rd.

Chasing 163 for victory, Mark Vincent (58 not out) and Lewis Tyrie (38 not out) put on an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 104 to wrap up the points.