WEPL
MATT Brown hit the winning four with just three balls to spare to give Corse & Staunton a nerve-tingling one-wicket victory away to Goatacre in WEPL Premier Two Glos/Wilts.
The visitors, chasing a target of 202, lost wickets at regular intervals as they chipped away at their target.
But Jack Hutchings kept a calm head with an unbeaten 50 from 57 before last man Brown struck the all-important boundary after Bertie Wyatt had earlier claimed fine figures of 4-18 from ten.
It was just as tense at Corsham where Cheltenham eased in by two wickets with only a ball in hand.
Max Shepherd took 3-51 from 10 as the home side rattled up 301-7 ahead of Cheltenham pacing their reply perfectly through Josh Breed (81), Mike Kelly (49) and Will Hope (48 not) while Luke Sellers capped a late cameo with the winning four.
Promoted Painswick saw off Hatherley & Reddings by 12 runs, Luke Woolway starring with an unbeaten 137 from 108 (16 fours, three sixes) while Tom Bowler’s 80 was in vain for the home side.
Thornbury, also elevated last year, trumped Royal Wootton Bassett by five wickets, spinner Harry Donelan taking 4-41 and Robbie O’Donnell cracking 57.
In Premier One, promoted Bristol made it two in a row with an eight-wicket derby win over Bedminster, captain Louie Shaw (3-18) and opener Nic Halstead Cleak (71 not) taking centre stage, while it was a tough day for Frocester who went down by 198 runs at Potterne.
Tristan Jungbauer hit 97 and Angus McKenzie was unbeaten on 88 for Bishopston who overcame Keynsham by four wickets in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset.
Captain Callum Loud hit 68 and bagged 3-45 for Downend who edged Shapwick & Polden by three runs while Muhammad Irfan Khan blazed an unbeaten 111 off just 67 (11 fours, seven sixes) for Golden Hill who waltzed in by eight wickets against Bridgwater 2nds.
Gloucester dug deep for a one run home success over Bourton Vale in the Gloucestershire division.
Tom Wilshaw top scored on 47 in Gloucester’s challenge of 245-8 which appeared well within range as Bourton Vale reached 228-5.
But the home side never gave up and kept the pressure on to pull the win out of the fire, Wilshaw earlier capturing the key wicket of James Vlaeminck for 107 off 86 (14 fours, two sixes).
Myles Holland’s burst of 4-34 set up Dumbleton for a four-wicket triumph at Stroud while Josh Barnes (51) and Tom Allcoat (46 not) steered Tewkesbury to a four-wicket victory at Frocester 2nds.
James Williams was unbeaten on 62 for Charlton Kings who eased past Cheltenham Civil Service by six wickets, and promoted Chipping Sodbury saw off Cirencester by 35 runs.
In Bristol & North Somerset, Milo Ayres thumped 89 off only 42 for Brislington who romped past Winterbourne by seven wickets while captain Rupert Young led from the front with 76 for Bristol 2nds in a 144-run derby triumph away to their Bedminster counterparts.
Knowle came up 85 runs short away to Bath 2nds, Twyford House were edged out by 40 runs at Congresbury and Bristol West Indian Phoenix saw off fellow newcomers Frenchay by seven wickets.
GCCL
TIM Chancellor claimed an all-bowled hat-trick in the final over of the game to ensure a 16-run victory for Hawkesbury Upton away to Apperley in Division One of the AMS Gloucestershire County League.
Chancellor finished with fine figures of 5-27 from 8.3 overs to help dismiss the home side for 192 after Jay Westwood had earlier top scored on 90 for Hawkesbury who were one of three sides to make it two from two after the opening weekend was washed out.
Promoted Langford owed much to Jeremy Kirby (77) and James West (68) in a total of 204-9 away to Chipping Campden ahead of Ollie Perks (4-23) and Jack Romanek (3-36) nailing down a 74-run success for their second successive win.
And also going well at this early stage are Rockhampton who dispatched Poulton by 117 runs after Matt Tyler (93), Harry Collins (76) and Rowan Cartlidge (54 not) shone with the bat.
Opener Alex Riggs crashed 143 off only 118 (16 fours, six sixes) for Thornbury 2nds who piled up 325-7 away to Shurdington to pave the way for a 124-run success, Simon Weeks and Sam Summerfield also composing half centuries.
Captain Jack Cowles led from the front with 108 at the top of the innings for Newent, dominating his side’s total of 190-9 at home to Redmarley and laying the platform for a 68-run success, Rich Henry following up with a terrific spell of 4-9 from nine.
Giles Wellman was another opener to impress with 103 for Great Rissington who chased down a target of 228 for a seven-wicket home defeat of Frampton-on-Severn.
Shockat Veshmia’s return of 5-43 from eight helped Gloucester AIW close out a 48-run home win against Tetbury in Division Three, Uzair Salehbhai earlier digging in for an important unbeaten 50 off 88 while Abraar Fadra cracked an unbeaten 49 from 34.
Ted Batchelor’s burst of 5-7 from 55.5 put Dumbleton 2nds on course for a nine-wicket home defeat of their Stroud counterparts in Division Four where Damien Bouwer smashed 103 off just 64 (14 fours, four sixes) for Chipping Sodbury 2nds who saw off Cranham by 143 runs.
Raife Hackett’s unbeaten 104 proved to be in vain for Cirencester 2nds who lost by 34 runs in Division Five at Minchinhampton whose top scorers were Russell Bryan (62) and James Grant (49).
And Tom Rutter’s burst of 4-12 from eight overs was the highlight of Poulton 2nds wrapping up a 78-run home win in Division Seven over their Cam counterparts.
