MARLBOROUGH executed a clinical performance to put bottom-of-the-league Malmesbury to the sword and complete a mammoth 167-run victory at the weekend.

Harrison Painter set the tone at the Savernake Forest Ground as he opened with 56 off 84 balls, before James Richardson (79 not out) saw the hosts to a score of 262 for the loss of eight wickets from their 50 overs.

Malmesbury were always behind the eight-ball in their reply and were skittled out for less than 100 as Fraser Gordon (3-20) and David West (3-20) tore a hole in the visitors' batting order – the away side collapsed to 95 all out.

“Malmesbury are rebuilding and our guys just got on top of it early on,” said Marlborough skipper George Fox.

“I think the standout performances were from the youngsters, with James Richardson finishing the game off really well by keeping the run-rate going.

“I think, looking at the position in the table, we were confident with the target we had set them and we had three spinners available on what was a dry day.

“The wicket was turning when their spinner was bowling and I just thought it would be interesting when we came in to bowl.

“I think if we were defending a lower total, I would have brought the spinners into the game early and I still think we would have won it.”

The win puts Marlborough just 12 points off the summit in the WEPL Wiltshire table and with games against league-leading Marshfield and Westbury coming up, Fox knows his side's fate is firmly in their own hands.

“There are some hard games for us in the run-in,” he added.

“We need to take half-chances. Those are the little things that will make the difference for us.

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We will set ourselves up accordingly for a Westbury bowling attack, which is really good, and a batting attack that has performed quite a few times.

“We are anxious that they are a very good side and we need to bring our A game.

“We’ve got a great bunch of young blokes, who really are fantastic and they are excited at being in the better half of the table.

“Their enthusiasm is relentless and we are lucky to have them coming through.

“Whatever this season brings, it is great to have them on board and they will take Marlborough to new places.”