ROYAL Wootton Bassett were involved in one of just two WEPL Wiltshire fixtures to produce a result during the first wet Saturday of the summer, although there was still pain in the rain for Darren Beasant’s side as they were beaten by six wickets at Devizes.

With conditions already damp underfoot upon arrival at the ground, victory was always likely to rely on a strong bowling performance first up in a match that was initially reduced to 31 overs per side.

However, it was home side who got first use of the ball after skipper David Bromley won the toss and had no hesitation in asking Bassett to bat, with Beasant’s side only able to post a total of 111-9, and even that was down to a brilliant 61 from Jack Parish as the only visiting batsman to reach double figures.

Devizes’ Harry Easton took two wickets in the opening four overs and finished with figures of 3-15, while Chris Downham claimed 3-19.

More rain duly arrived, though, and Devizes were given a vastly-reduced target to chase under the newly-introduced Duckworth-Lewis method, and they easily got past the winning post, finishing on 73-4 inside 17 overs, with Tom Andrew top scoring with 29.

Beasant said: “It was a tough day. Everyone knew the forecast wasn’t great and when we got there, it was already pretty wet.

“It was definitely bowler-friendly conditions, so it was one of the most important tosses of the season to win but unfortunately, I lost it.

“It was tough out in the middle, scoring was hard and we didn’t know what a good score would be but we had a great knock from Jack and I thought 111 would actually be pretty competitive.

“But then we had more rain and I think the Devizes innings got restricted to about 20 overs. Once Duckworth Lewis came in, the target was only 70-odd, and that’s always going to be tough to defend whatever the conditions are.

“It was one of those games where everything went against us, the weather, the toss, the Duckworth-Lewis score, so it was always going to be a difficult game to win.”

Elsewhere, Great Bedwyn were skittled for less than 100 as they were crushed by nine wickets at home to Trowbridge.

Scott Mitchell was the chief tormentor for Trowbridge, taking 4-26 as Bedwyn were bowled out for just 99. Josh Quinn (27) was the only man to reach double figures for Alistair Tuttle’s side but he was outscored by the 31 extras the visitors conceded.

Bedwyn offered up little resistance to that meagre total with the ball as Billy Cookson hit an unbeaten 51 as Trowbridge needed just 73 balls to reach their target, finishing on 102-1.

Meanwhile, Marlborough’s clash at home to Marshfield was abandoned, as was Calne’s trip to Purton.