BRIDGWATER maintained their good recent form with a convincing win at Chippenham on Saturday where they dominated from start to finish to win by 93 runs.

After being put into bat on a green surface in overcast conditions, the home side would have fancied their chances to make early in roads. However, Bridgwater’s opening pir of Andy Hallaran and Charlie Sharland (16) had other ideas as they put bat to ball immediate with some crisp drives either side of the wicket to wrestle the early initiative.

Sharland looked in good form however fell to a thin edge caught behind with the score on 46, which brought Gloucestershire’s Tom Lace to the wicket.

Lace and Hallaran started a very assured partnership with caution, being very watchful against the seaming ball, as home skipper Ralph Hardwick bowled with good control from the bottom end of the ground.

At drinks the visitors were in control at 106 for 1, with Hallaran having brought up his half century off only 59 balls including nine fours and one six.

As Lace began to find the conditions much easier, he accelerated the scoring, however the Chippenham spinner of Gloucestershire’s Oli Price and Jake Rowe kept control of the run rate in a quiet phase of play with the Bridgwater batsmen happy to inch towards a score of 200+.

The second wicket partnership eventually came to an end when it was worth 120 as Hallaran holed out off of the returning Slade for a fine 82 from 126 balls, his best innings of the season.

Lace continued to up the ante until he was dismissed by a fine one-handed catch by Hardwick for a key 69 from 119 balls, including four fours and one six.

Bridgwater then sent in skipper Mike Coles (14) and the returning Chris Skidmore (32no) to accelerate the scoring and this paid off with Skidmore being particularly effective with three maximums.

Alex Eckland also contributed an enterprising 17no off only 9 balls, as the visitors took advantage of having wickets in hand to eventually post an above par 245 for 4 from their 50 overs.

Adam Sullivan was the pick of the Chippenham bowling with 1-24 off 8 overs.

After tea the Bridgwater opening attack once again bowled extremely well, consistently beating the bat on regular occasions, reducing the home side to 33 for 2.

Opener Oli Meadows battled hard for his 27, however the visitors attack was all over the Chippenham top and middle order soon reducing them to 70 for 5 and 97 for 6.

Bridgwater’s fielding performance was to be exceptional with Coles picking up four catches at 1st slip and numerous good stops in the ring saved a number of runs.

Max Toohey was particularly effective with his left arm spin, taking 1-22 from his 10, and the home side had to settle for a couple of batting points, eventually being dismissed for 152.

Will Williams was again outstanding with 3-29 and he was backed up well by Dan Williams (3-26), Ogborne (2-33) and Ned Leonard (1-32) as the visitors picked up 20 points to keep in touch at the top of the table.