CHARD 1sts gained their third victory of the season in the Bristol and Somerset Division of the West of England Premier League on Saturday with a hard-fought 36-run win over Bishopston.

The game was reduced to 44 overs-a-side due to rain and Chard, batting first, amassed 162-9.

Chard had been struggling at one point when they found themselves at 66-5, but an important 67-run partnership between skipper Jon Dalwood and Scott Wells-Burr steadied the ship.

Wells-Burr hit 40 off of 43 balls before he became the sixth wicket to fall, while Dalwood was next to go after making a key and resolute 43 from 75 deliveries which had helped to give his side a fighting chance in the field.

It was Wells-Burr and Dalwood combination that then did the trick with the ball as they helped to skittle their opponents out for 126 in the 40th over.

Wells-Burr struck first when he removed opener Dave O’Brien for four and the Bishopston batsmen struggled to get going.

Wells-Burr finished with 4-44 from his 13 overs, while Dalwood mopped up the tail to take a match-winning 4-12 from just 10.3 overs which included five maidens.

Chard travel to Stapleton on Saturday hoping for another victory.

Dalwood’s side are currently in a midtable position in the division.