THREE teams remain in the race to be crowned Division One champions in the Wiltshire Cricket League heading into the final round of fixtures after Great Bedwyn missed the chance to seal the crown at the weekend.

Bedwyn fell to a 46-run defeat at home to Chippenham 2nd but still hold an 11-point cushion at the top ahead of Saturday’s finale away at Nationwide House.

Avebury sit second, 11 points behind, while third-placed Corsham 2nd have an outside chance of winning the title as they are only 22 points adrift of the leaders.

Bedwyn were stunned by Chippenham after failing to chase down a target of 200 on home turf.

Tom Makepeace’s 91 guided Chippenham to a total of 199-8 off their 45 overs but Bedwyn collapsed in reply as they were dismissed for 153, with only Ben Smith (66) lasting at the crease for any length of time.

Avebury are keeping the leaders honest and claimed a two-wicket win at home to Marlborough in the penultimate round of fixtures.

Marlborough were dismissed for just 138 and Rob Gater (53) saw Avebury to their target, although they had a few wobbles before finally reaching 139-8.

Corsham are still in the title race courtesy of a 24-point haul in their six-wicket victory at Beckington.

The home side were bowled out for 131 and Corsham needed less than 29 overs to reach a winning 132-4 after tea.

At the other end of the table, Malmesbury are propping up the standings after going down by 87 runs at home to Swindon 2nd.

Steve Laggett (68), Tom Codling (55no) and Sam Giddings (50) all made vital contributions with the bat as Swindon scored 243-6.

Malmesbury never got near that in reply and had only reached 156-9 by the time their 45 overs were up.

The final match in the top flight saw Winsley romp to a 66-run win at home to Nationwide House.

Stuart MacDougall hit 64 as Winsley posted 210-8 and Kegan Smart then took over with the ball after tea, claiming 4-31 as Nationwide were bowled out for 144.

Division Two

A MINIMUM of one batting and bowling point in their season finale at home to Swindon NALGO will see Burbage & Easton Royal 2nd win the title on Saturday.

Burbage are on the cusp of championship glory after a 56-run success away at Bear Flat at the weekend.

Ross Newman took 4-37 for the Bears but a battling 74 from Craig Simmons saw Burbage post 227-9.

The hosts could only muster 171-8 in reply as Jack Mainwaring top scored with an unbeaten 56.

Goatacre 2nd did all they could in the title race after beating Biddestone 2nd at home by 17 runs – but that was their final game of the season so they cannot now catch Burbage.

The Goats set a total of 256-9, with Imraj Heer (55) top scoring, and George Macilwaine and Kian Chivers then took four wickets each after tea to wrap up the win.

James Barlett (71) and Luke Panes (59) gave Biddestone hope in their run chase but the visitors were eventually all out for 239.

Excellent bowling from Brian Jefferies led Beehive Southwick to an 84-run victory at Swindon United Churches.

Richard Martin took 4-39 for Churches as Beehive posted 217-9 but those figures were bettered by Jeffries’ 4-21 as the home side were bowled out for 133 after tea.

Division Three

BRADFORD on Avon all but secured their place as runners-up behind Trowbridge 2nd following a 10-run win at Marshfield 2nd.

Opener Chris Thompson (75) was the backbone of Bradford’s 211-5 and Marshfield were only on 201-9 after their 45 overs in reply, with Matt Watson (53) leading the way in the run chase.

Division Four

FREDERICK Walker’s 82 guided Ramsbury to a four-wicket success at Melksham.

Melksham made 185-8 batting first and Walker’s contribution made the run chase a straightforward one as Ramsbury reached a winning 186-6 with 29 balls to spare.

Wroughton Wranglers collapsed against Royal Wootton Bassett 3rd to suffer a heavy 144-run defeat.

Openers Ben Mattick (85no) and Yasir Irshad (68) helped Bassett to a total of 213-4 before the visitors skittled Wroughton for just 69 in the second innings.

Division Five

THISARA Gedara fell three runs short of a century as Purton 2nd thrashed Spye Park by 106 runs.

Gedara (97), Fraser Conway (65) and David Allen (59) saw Purton post a monster total of 304-4.

Jamie Richards took over with the ball after tea, taking 4-26 to bowl Park out for 198, with Simon Ellis (62) top scoring.

Division Six

BLUNSDON were crushed by 202 runs on their trip to Wilcot as Mark Oliver hit a century for the hosts.

Oliver (104) helped Wilcot post 261-8 and Blundson were blown away after tea, bowled out for just 39.