CHIPPENHAM gave themselves a glimpse of what they are capable with the ball on Saturday as they secured a 35-run success over Thornbury.

The south Gloucestershire side arrived at Hardenhuish Park in fine form and Chippenham skipper Brad Dawson was hoping that his team were able to upset the apple cart.

However, having gone from 128-2 to 171 all out, things were looking as bleak under dark skies.

Rain had played its part with the match reduced to 35-overs-a-side, but Dawson, who will take his team to his old club Goatacre this weekend, was delighted with how his side defended their mediocre total.

“We didn’t bat as well as we should,” Dawson said. “It was silly batting, we should have seen our overs out.

“But then we went and bowled and fielded the best we had done all season – it was a massive win.

“We go to Goatacre on Saturday, my old club, and if we beat them then we finish above them, if they win they finish above us.

“The aim at the start of the season was to be in the top four – win on Saturday and we do that.”

Having won the toss at Hardenhuish, Chippenham opted to bat first, but they were quickly in trouble with opener Oliver Jones back on the hutch without troubling the scorers.

However, Aaron Merryweather was joined by overseas batsman Darryl Losper and they pushed the score on to 61-1 before the South African fell for 27.

Chippenham were looking set for a decent total before the rain came in the 13th over and they lost 90 minutes of play.

Opener Merryweather and Dawson propelled the score up to 128-2 before wickets tumbled Chippenham were dismissed for 171 in the 32nd over.

However, some tight bowling and good field restricted Thornbury to 139-8 with Dawson the pick of the bowlers with 2-18.

Goatacre, who host Chippenham on Saturday, saw their game at Burbage and Easton Royal abandoned after 24.2 overs due to rain with the visitors 103-6. James and Oliver Lavis both claimed two wickets apiece for Burbage.

Meanwhile Biddestone claimed a 38-run success over Rockhampton in their rain-affected match.

Having won the toss and electing to bat first, the hosts put on 174-8 from 39 overs with opener Tim Knight scoring a watchful 49 from 83 balls for Biddestone.

Rockhampton were then set a revised target of 183 from 39 overs, but 4-23 from Josh Boulton and two wickets apiece for Dwaine Perry and Liam Boulton helped see the visitors dismissed for 145, In the only game to go ahead in WEPL Wiltshire, Malmesbury were unable to stop Westbury and District being crowned champions.

Malmesbury were skittled for 74 in 31 overs and the visitors required just 61 balls to wrap up a nine-wicket success and the league title in the process.