Frocester skipper Uzi Qureshi steered Frocester to a three-wicket Premier One triumph over Hatherley & Reddings with an unbeaten 92 from 123 (nine fours, two sixes). Stroud, meanwhile, came unstuck by 154 runs at home to Corsham, writes Steve Hill.
GLOS COUNTY
Paul Turner finished with tremendous figures of 7-15 from his eight overs as Woodmancote rallied from being dismissed for just 120 to complete a 58-run win away to Shurdington in Division Two of the Greene King IPA Gloucestershire County League.
Victory appeared to be a distant hope on the opening day of the season as the visitors, who lost the toss, were soon reeling at 28-5 before Charlie Hawken (34), Jason Gore (22) and Turner (16) dragged their side into three figures against Chris White (4-14).
But batting proved to be even more of a struggle for Shurdington who could not deal with Turner, finding themselves in all kinds of bother at 10-3 and then 28-7 with White (25) the only batsman to settle.
It was a good day too for Great Rissington who romped in by seven wickets at Gloucester AIW Sports, George Garratt grabbing 4-17 while Sam Beeley’s return of 4-33 helped Hawkesbury Upton to a 103-run success at Hatherley & Reddings 2nds.
Dan Moore (4-24) shone in Chipping Campden’s five-wicket defeat of Redmarley, and Jack Weaving (4-37) helped set up Cinderford St Johns’ six-wicket success at Langford.
Sam Wheeler, meanwhile, produced the bowling display of the day with figures of 5-10 from eight for Kingsholm at home to Chipping Sodbury in Division One.
But it was Sodbury who took the spoils, spinner Dan Brown capturing 5-12 to ensure a low scoring 66-run victory after Jason Thomson had earlier provided a crucial 47.
Scott Meredith top scored on 85 in Poulton’s 49-run triumph at Aston Ingham while Benny Ellis (86 not) steered Charlton Kings to a five-wicket triumph at Cam.
Alex Gray’s 88 was in vain for Westbury-on-Severn who succumbed by four wickets at home to Lydney, and Tewkesbury eeked out a four-run victory away to Cheltenham 2nds.
Top individual score of the day came in Division Three where captain Chris Clayton cracked an unbeaten 108 for Fairford ahead of completing an 81-run victory away to Frocester 3rds.
Will Bowers (88) also hit form as the visitors piled up 249-2 and then restricted Frocester to a reply of 168-7.
Sam Carter produced an exceptional batting effort in Division Five for Witcombe against Stroud 2nds, coming in at seven to wallop 103 and pave the way for a 31-run triumph.
And Ali Smith was another centurion, batting all 40 overs to finish unbeaten on 105 (109 balls, 15 fours, one six) for Haresfield Gladiators who were 37-run victors at Whitminster in Division Six.
Henry Bonham batted all 40 overs to finish 95 not out for Painswick 2nds who trumped their Westbury-on-Severn counterparts by 72 runs. And Alex Tuck’s unbeaten 93 saw Oaksey to a six-wicket success at Chalford.
WEPL WRAP
JACK Whiting dug in for a terrific century to help pave the way for Gloucester to make a winning start to the new season, completing a 72-run home success over Bourton Vale in the Gloucestershire Division of the West of England Premier League.
The opener’s side slipped to 14-2 after winning the toss but Whiting, who went to reach 114 off 110 balls (15 fours, three sixes), and Dan Brabham (36) pointed the way to a useful total of 285-9 before skipper Tom Collinson (4-36 from nine) turned the screw in the field.
Robbie Baker’s 95 was in vain for Cheltenham Civil Service who succumbed by three wickets in a rain-affected clash at Apperley while opener George MacDuff’s 95 and a haul of 5-34 from Tom Hayward were the highlights of Painswick’s 99-run victory away to Thornbury 2nds.
Frocester 2nds nipped in by one wicket away to Cirencester, skipper Sam Birch standing tall with an unbeaten 70, and Corse & Staunton held off Rockhampton by five wickets, Matt Cox top scoring on 87.
In Premier One, Cheltenham dispatched Taunton Deane by 143 runs, Josh Breed (88) and Sam Didcote (4-18 from nine) both shining.
Bedminster slipped by 99 runs at Chippenham and Downend came up 34 runs short in a rain-hit home date against Lansdown, Jordan Garrett top scoring on 81.
Dumbleton held off Biddestone by 26 runs in Premier Two Glos/Wilts, Will Sharp (4-36) and Tom Green (2-27) both shining.
Thornbury, who are keen to celebrate their 150th anniversary with promotion, completed a tense 11-run home victory over Goatacre.
Josh Riggs hit 65 off only 35 (seven fours, five sixes) as Thornbury stuttered to a total of 185 before following up with a return of 2-28 in tandem with fine work from Harry Wormwell (4-41).
In Premier Two Bristol & Somerset, Winterbourne held their nerve for a one-run home triumph over Midsomer Norton.
Owen Lingard (58) lifted the South Gloucestershire side to 229-9. And there were then three wickets apiece for Chris Shine, captain George Ford and Darren Vickery in a tight finish.
Bristol were six-wicket home victors over Bath 2nds while openers Tommie Predgen (52) and Max Harsham (40) could not save Bishopston from a 91-run reverse at Taunton St Andrews.
In Bristol & North Somerset, Tayyab Riaz stroked an unbeaten 121 and followed up with 3-14 for Golden Hill who opened with a 61-run victory away to Old Bristolians Westbury.
The visitors were wobbling at 29-4 when Tayyab took charge, hitting 13 fours and four sixes off 105 deliveries. The next highest scorer in a total of 209-6 was Cyrus Shafi on 31 as George Willis captured 4-44 from his nine.
In reply, the home side made a solid start through Ben Harris (40) and Russ Baker (33) but slid from 67-1 to 108-5 and finished well short.
It was closer at Congresbury where Twyford House squeezed in by one wicket.
Star of the show was Tom Armfield who followed his 4-27 with a battling unbeaten 49 off 94 balls (five fours and a six) as Twyford rallied from 27-3 and 122-8 to reach their target of 152.
Captain Olly Sharp crashed 74 from just 38 balls (11 fours, two sixes) to propel Stapleton to a seven-wicket success away to neighbours Bristol West Indian Phoenix.
Brislington were in a strong position at 93-2 off 19, chasing 146 at local rivals Keynsham, when rain forced play to be abandoned. And it was the same story at Knowle who were 58-2, in reply to Bristol 2nds’ challenge of 166, when the rain had the last word.
