WEPL
DUMBLETON completed a five-wicket victory away to Tewkesbury to leapfrog their promotion rivals and grab a six-point advantage with one round of games to go at the top of WEPL’s Gloucestershire division.
Josh Barnes’ unbeaten 56 steered the home side to a total of 190-7 in the 46th over when rain, predictably, interrupted proceedings with the result that Dumbleton were set a revised target of 166 from 33.
And the visitors comfortably banked the win with almost three overs to spare, Rashmika Madushanka contributing a crucial 60 from 51.
Dumbleton wrap up their campaign with a home date on Saturday against Charlton Kings while Tewkesbury visit bottom side Cirencester.
Cheltenham Civil Service also remain stuck in the bottom two despite a four-wicket home win against Stroud, chasing down a DLS target of 201 from 26 to foil Callum Gegg who had earlier smashed 115 off only 54 (10 fours, seven sixes).
Bourton Vale slipped from 115-3 to 137 all out and an 84-run home reverse against Chipping Sodbury, Gloucester trumped Frocester 2nds by 44 runs and Charlton Kings were five wicket home victors against Cirencester.
Thornbury, meanwhile, are 14 points clear at the top of Premier Two Glos/Wilts going into their final match … at home to nearest rivals Burbage & Easton Royal.
The South Gloucestershire side completed a two-wicket win away to Hatherley & Reddings, spinner Harry Donelan claiming 5-17, while Burbage lost ground with a four-wicket home setback against Cheltenham after being bowled out for 82 by Josh Breed (5-31) and Luke Sellers (4-21, both from ten).
Bottom side Corse & Staunton lost a weather-affected home date against Royal Wootton Bassett by 83 runs, Painswick went down by eight wickets at home to Corsham and Marshfield slipped up by eight wickets at Goatacre.
In Premier One, battling Bedminster held off champions and leaders Bath by four runs, Ollie Meadows top scoring with a patient 52 and Sam Bowen claiming 4-33 – including the final wicket off the last ball of the match – to make it three in a row.
And Bristol continued their excellent form with a four-wicket home triumph against second-placed Potterne, Will Rudge taking 3-36 before Jack Shelley (50) and captain Louie Shaw (41 not) led the reply.
Frocester were proceeding nicely at 237-4 from 32, Uzi Qureshi unbeaten on 101 when play had to be abandoned at home to Taunton St Andrews.
Bishopston’s lead at the top of Premier Two Bristol/Somerset was cut to six points following a six-wicket defeat away to nearest rivals Golden Hill.
Bish were battling at 71-7 against leg spinner Dan Broome (3-26) before captain Dave O’Brien (53) and Alby Stevens (48 not) took their side to 176-8.
But Irfan Khan’s 55 then helped put Golden Hill in charge before, like so many other games, the rain had the final word.
Downend were bowled out for 75 and a nine-wicket reverse at Clevedon while Keynsham were washed out at Ilminster.
Brislington remain in the promotion mix from Bristol & North Somerset after completing a six-wicket victory at Twyford House which enabled them to close the gap on leaders Congresbury who tied with bottom side Frenchay.
Needing 181 for the win, Frenchay were in terrible trouble at 18-5 before Tom Bibby inspired a fightback with a gutsy 64 while captain Alex Stell weighed in with an unbeaten 27 at No 10 only for the match to be tied off the final ball of the game through a run out.
Winterbourne folded to 38 all out and 176-run humbling away to Bath 2nds and Knowle edged Bedminster 2nds by eight wickets with the Bristol West Indian Phoenix-Bristol 2nds clash washed out without a ball being bowled.
GCCL
CAPTAIN Pete Lavis produced a fine effort with bat and then ball to ensure a 46-run win at Eldersfield for Stone that keeps alive their hopes of avoiding the drop from Division Seven of the AMS Gloucestershire County League.
The all-rounder top scored with 67 in his side’s challenge of 174-7 and followed up with a return of 6-11 from 6.1 to edge his side up a place to seventh with a home date on Saturday to come against high-flying Langford 2nds.
The second-placed Oxfordshire side recorded one of the biggest wins of the season, racking up a total of 262-7 declared at home to Poulton, Elliot Greenwood, Tom Stevens and Jake Romanek all cracking half centuries, ahead of the visitors being rushed out for 30 by Jack Brown (5-9).
Langford’s first XI remain pole position in Division One after dispatching their Poulton counterparts by 112 runs.
But Aston Ingham, second at the start of the day, lost by seven wickets at Lydney and that enabled Rockhampton to grab the runners-up slot courtesy of a nine-wicket pounding of Kingsholm.
Langford (252) conclude their campaign on Saturday at home to bottom side Apperley while Rockhampton (240) entertain Lydney and Aston Ingham (225) welcome Hawkesbury Upton.
Hawkesbury’s Davis Newcombe, meanwhile, finished with 5-10 to pave the way for a ten-wicket home success against Chipping Campden.
And Kade Clowes’ figures of 5-23 ensured a 127-run triumph for Westbury-on-Severn at Apperley.
Thornbury 2nds roared to the top of Division Two with a 140-run home humbling of previous leaders Great Rissington who were rushed out for only 50 by Harry Blackwell (6-16).
Thornbury (259) conclude their season on Saturday away to third-placed Redmarley (241) while Rissington (250) welcome Cheltenham 2nds.
Division Three leaders Tewkesbury 2nds’ clash at Ullenwood Bharat was abandoned because of rain that once again plagued many fixtures.
But second-placed Tetbury closed the gap to 14 points after racing to an eight-wicket home victory against Bourton Vale 2nds, James Meacham (4-13) the pick of the attack.
Division Four champions Dumbleton 2nds stretched their unbeaten record with a seven wicket home defeat of Woodmancote, Robbie Hardwick top scoring on 79.
And in Division Six, Jim Stuart’s spell of 4-31 helped pave the way for leaders Down Hatherley to edge Arcadians Nine Elms by three wickets.
