Biddestone 127-9 Beckington 128-2 (Beckington won by eight wickets)

The Badgers entertained Biddestone on Saturday knowing that nine points would ensure promotion to Division 2 of the Wiltshire Cricket League.

Skipper Wilson won the toss and elected to bowl on a wet wicket. Openers Stewart Swift and Ben Keevil started well and it was Keevil who was first to strike with a well taken caught and bowled with the score on eight.

Keevil struck again when Boore hit an expansive drive into the hands of Banbury at cover with the score on 12.

At the other end Swift was generating good pace and was the next man in the wickets, having Evans well caught by Mike Rustell behind the stumps to leave Biddestone reeling on 12-3.

Opener Foston was joined by skipper Boulton and the pair set about rebuilding the innings. The score had moved to 56 when Ben Keevil trapped the dangerous Boulton lbw for 17.

Foston was joined by Mitchell and again the pair began to forge a partnership before Mitchell was forced to retire with a knee injury.

Evans came in and looked composed from the start but Foston was next to go in the 33rd over, caught and bowled by Paul Swift for a patient 21, with the score on 88.

Roberts was run out thanks to good work from Wilson, while Berry was lbw to Martyn Peters to leave the score on 100-7.

The Badgers looked to kill off the innings and were helped on their way by an unusual run out. Mitchell returned with a runner and an Evans straight drive was deflected by bowler Alex Keevil on to the stumps with the non-striking batsman out of the crease.

Paul Swift then bowled Horn and at 108-9 the innings looked all but over. Stewart Swift came back into the attack, but as the overs ran out, the Biddestone final pair refused to give up and limped to 127-9 from 45 overs, denying the Badgers the final bowling bonus point.

The wicket had been drying over the course of the day and Banbury and Abrahams opened the batting for the Badgers against the pace of Marsh and Horn, knowing that a solid start was required.

Both played watchfully, defending anything on the stumps and hitting the bad ball. With the score on 34 Banbury was first to go, caught at gully from the bowling of Boulton for 17.

In came leading scorer Rustell who looked composed from the start, flicking his first ball through midwicket with great confidence.

At the other end Abraham looked well set, punishing the short ball and driving fluently through the off side. The pair continued to bat sensibly, taking the score onto 78 before Abraham was adjudged lbw for an excellent 38.

Gary Peters came in and looked untroubled as he set about taking the game away from Biddestone. Boulton was throwing everything at the Badgers to try and take a wicket but Rustell and Peters experience was showing.

The score went past 100 in the 28th over and a flurry of boundaries took the score to 120 before Rustell hit a trademark drive through the covers to seal victory.

It was also enough to secure promotion, a timely boost to the Badgers, who are launching a second team to play in the Wiltshire League next season.