LUKE Woolway hammered a career-best 200 and followed up with two crucial wickets as Painswick held on for a six-run win away to Goatacre in WEPL Premier Two Glos/Wilts.
The visitors, who lost two early wickets after winning the toss, recovered superbly as Woolway and Alastair Conolly (74) went on to share a fourth wicket stand of 208.
Woolway was eventually held after facing 151 balls (18 fours, 11 sixes) in a total of 345-8 which proved to be just enough in a thrilling finish which went right down to the wire.
Goatacre also enjoyed the conditions to stay in the fight despite the efforts of Matt Conolly (3-45 from ten) as David Miles crunched 124.
But he fell to Woolway as Painswick held their nerve at the end to close out the win and stay sixth.
Leaders Dumbleton also lost, by four wickets away to struggling Purton, but retain an 11-point lead with two rounds of games to go.
Next up for Dumbleton is a trip to Tewkesbury who suffered a 122-run reverse at Cheltenham for whom skipper Josh Breed (3-28) played a crucial role. There was also defeat for Hatherley & Reddings who succumbed by 85 runs at Corsham.
Thornbury’s Robbie O’Donnell, meanwhile, plundered the highest individual score this summer in WEPL – an unbeaten 207 – but still finished on the losing side as Bedminster completed a tremendous four-wicket Premier One victory.
The New Zealander faced 152 balls, striking 25 fours and eight sixes, to dominate a challenge of 318-7 which Bedminster chased down with seven balls to spare to stay second.
Bristol are all but safe after trumping Bath by four wickets, Jake Carstens claiming 4-41, but Downend have it all to do if they are to avoid relegation after a four-wicket home setback against Burbage & Easton Royal.
Frocester, meanwhile, moved a big step closer towards safety with a seven-wicket home win against bottom side Taunton St Andrews, captain Will Naish leading from the front with an unbeaten 109 from 111 (12 fours, six sixes).
Golden Hill slipped to fifth in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset with a seven-wicket defeat at OB Westbury while struggling Bishopston were rushed out for 69 and a nine-wicket home thumping against Lansdown.
Chipping Sodbury had to battle for a 13-run victory at Stroud to stay top of the Gloucestershire division and now prepare to host second-placed Bourton Vale who saw off Charlton Kings by four wickets, Musa Twala unbeaten on 103 from 151 (15 fours, one six).
Opener Nic Merrin (178) and Anthony James (109) powered Aston Ingram to a total of 387-5 at home to relegated Thornbury 2nds who folded to 100 all out.
And Gloucester moved up a place to eighth with a six-wicket home defeat of Langford who were skittled for 88 by Raju Devandran (6-28) while Hawkesbury Upton saw off Frocester 2nds by six wickets, Kudzai Maunze unbeaten on 65.
Only four points separate the top three sides in the battle for the one promotion place from Bristol & North Somerset with two rounds of matches remaining.
Bristol West Indian Phoenix began the day third but ended it top following an 85-run victory away to fellow high flyers Brislington who are now third.
And Twyford House who were in pole position, find themselves second after falling by 92 runs at Knowle.
It’s also very tight at the other end of the table where it’s very likely that three sides will this year be relegated.
Bristol 2nds (149) are anchored to the bottom following a six wicket defeat at Frenchay.
And a fifth successive loss means Pak Bristolians (158) stay ninth after suffering a last over three wicket reverse away to Bedminster 2nds (182) who, in the process, moved up a place to seventh.
Bradley Stoke & Almondsbury (175) are now in danger in eighth place after Bristol Pakistanis made it five in a row with a six-wicket home triumph.
TYRONE Hoskins and captain Will Peters shared a club record opening stand of 395 for St Briavels – improving the mark of 339 they set only a month ago in the Gloucestershire League!
Hoskins was held for a career-best 205 which featured 23 fours and 11 sixes while Peters was unbeaten on 171 (21 fours, six sixes) as their side piled up 456-2 from their 40 overs at home to Dymock 2nds in Division Eight A.
The visitors, in reply, then wilted to 40 all out as Stuart Williams (4-23) and Rob Cole (3-13) led the charge for Saints who remain two points behind leaders Penallt & Redbrook in the race for the title and promotion.
It was only last month that Hoskins (170) and Peters (118) put on 339 without loss against Alvington & Woolaston. And that partnership bettered the club record of 261 which the pair set last year, against Redmarley!
The batters did not quite have things all their own way on the weekend as Geoff Evans finished with fine figures of 7-20 from eight for Penallt in their 186-run victory at Ashleworth Woodpeckers after Liam Hurcombe had earlier finished unbeaten on 107.
Laurence Mezo went one better with a magnificent return of 8-18 from eight overs for Stinchcombe Stragglers who dispatched Oaksey by ten wickets in Division Seven B.
In Eight B, meanwhile, Harley Mulraney captured 6-23 for Witcombe but could not prevent an 81-run defeat at St Philips North.
And in Division Nine C, Nisal Dinusha finished with 6-16 from eight as Andoversford 2nds eased to a 165-run home victory against their Redmarley counterparts.
Corse & Staunton slipped off the top of Division One with a five-wicket home setback against relegation battling Kingsholm.
The home side were rushed out for 92 after winning the toss, Luke Sudlow claiming 4-16 from nine and then hitting 37 in a comfortable victory.
New leaders are Cheltenham 2nds who emerged 35-run victors at Lydney where Thiwanka Kekulawala was in tremendous form, compiling 104 from 95 (13 fours, one six) and following up with a return of 6-39 from nine.
Apperley moved a step closer towards the Division Two title with a ten-wicket win at relegated Shurdington.
And Division Three leaders Woodmamcote marched on with a seven wicket success at home to Bourton Vale 2nds, Ryan Bignall finishing with 4-39 from seven.
Hawkesbury Upton 2nds, meanwhile, now boast the only remaining unbeaten record in the league after edging their Quedgeley & Hardwicke counterparts by 17 runs in Division Seven B.
Winchcombe tasted defeat for the first time this summer in Six A, succumbing by four wickets at home to Arcadian Nine Elms, and it was the same story in Eight C where Barnsley Beeches slipped up by 13 runs at home to Ashton Keynes despite 136 from captain Mehul Patel.
