SOUTH Wilts fourths continued their winning ways with a comfortable 47-run victory over Bashley in Regional Division 2 West.

Charlie Smith and Jack Stearman (33) saw the visitors off to a good start with a 71-run opening partnership.

Smith continued the fine work with a third wicket stand with Archie Knight (46) of 100 runs which went a long way to setting up a victory. Smith fell shortly before the 42 overs were up for a fine 87 as South Wilts closed on 226-5.

The hosts started slowly against the accurate Josh Croom and Sam Burton and at the halfway mark were 68-3. The tempo was increased after Paul Wylie (3-31) had picked up his third wicket.

At 126-4 with wickets in hand and 11 overs to go, with skipper Luke Stubbington and Geoff Bettle going well, the home side still looked in with a chance, but Stubbington's dismissal for 60 ended all that.

Young Sam Presland kept the effort going with 22 not out but Bettle (41no) surprisingly chose to bat the rest of the innings out with the Bashley effort rather perplexingly finishing on 179-5, some 47 runs short of their target.