GCF WEPL
Frocester are up to third in Premier One following a seven-wicket success at Taunton St Andrews, Zain Syed leading the chase with 118 from 85 (12 fours, eight sixes).
Charlie Watkins cracked his second WEPL century of the season, finishing unbeaten on a superb 131, but still finished on the losing side as unbeaten leaders Bourton Vale chased down a target of 296 for a fine two-wicket win at Charlton Kings in the Gloucestershire division.
Watkins faced 164 balls, hitting 15 fours and four sixes, to dominate his side’s total of 295-4 after losing the toss, skipper Benny Ellis weighing in with 81.
But it proved to be within range for Bourton Vale who got over the line with ten balls to spare thanks to a fine team effort with the bat.
Lysander Tarrant (75) and Ollie Lockey (67) shone while there was also a crucial cameo of 28 from Danny Way as their side dramatically accelerated the scoring rate as the overs counted down.
Next up for Vale is a home date on Saturday against second-placed Chipping Sodbury who were 83-run home victors over Stroud, Henry Rendell (87), Rohan Wijeratne (78) and Jiwanjot Singh (69) amongst the runs.
Hawkesbury Upton secured their second win of the campaign, overcoming Frocester 2nds by 40 runs.
Captain George Bailey hit an unbeaten 125 at the top of the order (11 fours) and shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 218 with Jay Westwood whose run-a-ball 101 featured 12 fours ahead of Sam Beeley taking centre stage with figures of 4-37.
Gloucester were 95-run victors at Langford, Raju Devendran claiming 4-16 from eight while spinner John Stilwell celebrated his birthday with a haul of 3-23, and Thornbury 2nds are still looking for their first win after succumbing by seven wickets at home to Aston Ingham, Anthony James bagging 5-29 and then hitting an unbeaten 71.
Promoted Tewkesbury completed a last ball two wicket home win over Cheltenham to move up to fifth in Premier Two Glos/Wilts.
Worcestershire’s Gareth Roderick top scored on 62 and George Pritchard thumped an unbeaten 55 as Cheltenham battled their way to 228-7.
Opener Josh Richards then threatened to win the game on his own with 110 from 130 (12 fours, three sixes) but his dismissal, with the score at 169, brought the visitors back into the game with wickets falling at regular intervals.
And it needed nerves of steel from the last wicket pair of Matt Stevens and Tom Morris to come up with the required 17 runs, including six scampered singles from the final over, to bank the points.
Dumbleton remain second following a 160-run home hammering of bottom side Purton while Hatherley & Reddings were edged out by nine runs at home to Corsham despite Nemika Benthota’s 96, and Painswick were trumped by 13 runs at home to Goatacre.
Thornbury went down by nine wickets at Bedminster while Downend came up 14 runs short at Burbage & Easton Royal despite Jordan Garrett’s unbeaten 77.
Bristol’s big derby trip away to Bath was abandoned because of rain.
Golden Hill dropped a place to third in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset following a two-wicket home setback against OB Westbury while Bishopston lost a rain-affected trip to Lansdown by 53 runs.
Bristol Pakistanis are off the bottom of Bristol & North Somerset after completing their first win, trumping fellow strugglers Bradley Stoke & Almondsbury by 66 runs, Soban Irfan the hero with figures of 6-39 from 8.4 overs.
Twyford House remain in pole position despite a 142-run thumping at Knowle for whom Mark Coombes (124) and slipper Oli Haynes shared a second wicket stand of 199.
Brislington are up to second thanks to a six wicket triumph away to Bristol West Indian Phoenix which featured 77 from 55 balls by Milo Ayres.
Promoted Pak Bristolians continued their fine start to the campaign with a 59-run home defeat of Bedminster 2nds, Ismail Zia leading the charge with a superb return of 5-20 from ten.
And Bristol 2nds completed a low scoring three-wicket home win over Frenchay, Will Rudge contributing a vital 36.
