CAPTAIN Will Naish led from the front as Frocester timed their chase to perfection, completing a two-wicket victory with four balls to spare away to Burbage & Easton Royal in WEPL Premier One.
The home side posted a total of 278-5 after winning the toss, Richie Cave claiming 2-58 while there were also useful spells from spinners Ryan Kilmister (1-44) and Gloucestershire’s Ed Middleton (1-48, both from ten).
Opener Max Dunne (94) and Uzi Qureshi (47) then put Frocester in a useful position at 157-1 only for Burbage to rally with a series of breakthroughs.
But while wickets tumbled at the other end, Naish kept a cool head to finish unbeaten 69 from 47, hitting the first two balls of the final over for six and then four to bank the points and move his side up to fifth after five rounds of games.
Newcomers Thornbury squeezed out a tremendous nine-run win away to Bath, Gloucestershire’s Chris Dent (67) and captain Harry Thomas (64) top scoring for the visitors ahead of spinner Josh Thomas helping close out the win with a fine spell of 4-45 from ten, including the vital wicket of Bath captain Harry Ellison in the final over for exactly 100.
Downend battled hard before succumbing by two wickets away to leaders Bridgwater but Bristol made it two wins in six days at Potterne, following up a national cup triumph with a fine 23-run victory, while Bedminster humbled Taunton St Andrews by nine wickets.
Dumbleton suffered a first setback in Premier Two Glos/Wilts, losing by 175 runs at home to Goatacre. And that slip up allowed Royal Wootton Bassett to go top courtesy of a four wicket home victory against Hatherley & Reddings.
Painswick were trumped by 51 runs at home to Chippenham and Tewkesbury fell by 80 runs at home to Corsham, but Cheltenham were 108-run winners at Purton where captain Josh Breed finished with fine figures of 4-9 from eight.
Golden Hill remain second in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset after edging Congresbury by 13 runs, John Colley claiming 3-24 at the death with his flight and guile but Bishopston slipped up five wickets at home to Weston-super-Mare.
Bourton Vale made it five from five to go clear at the top of the Gloucestershire division, easing past Thornbury 2nds by seven wickets, Max Shepherd leading the attack with a return of 4-23 from ten.
Langford suffered their first setback after being bowled out for 109 at home to Chipping Sodbury for whom captain Tom Laver took 4-18 from 7.4 in a seven-wicket success.
Anthony James and opener Gus Carini-Roberts, meanwhile, paved the way for Aston Ingham’s 88-run home defeat of fellow newcomers Hawkesbury Upton.
James finished unbeaten on 113 from only 75 (15 fours, four sixes) while opener Gus Carini-Roberts hit 107 off 137 (14 fours, one six) in an imposing total of 317-2.
And James then followed up with an excellent return of 4-24 from 9.1 to wrap up the win.
Frocester 2nds secured their first victory of the campaign, defeating Gloucester by 90 runs, and Charlton Kings were four-wicket victors at Stroud where New Zealander Matt Gibson struck with 4-20 from nine overs of sharp left-arm seam.
Twyford House continued their fine start in Bristol & North Bristol, extending their 100 per cent record with an 11-run triumph away to Bradley Stoke & Almondsbury.
Promoted Frenchay are up to second after making it three in a row with a 52-run success away to Pak Bristolians while Bristol West Indian Phoenix dismissed Knowle for 91 en route to a five-wicket win.
Bristol 2nds edged Brislington by 31 runs and Bedminster 2nds eased past bottom side Bristol Pakistanis by six wickets.
DUNCAN Bent finished unbeaten on a record breaking 175 for Stroud 2nds but still finished on the losing side as their Charlton Kings counterparts closed out a 52-run victory in Division Four of the Gloucestershire Cricket League.
The opener faced 113 balls and hit 15 fours and nine sixes to beat the previous personal highest score for his club’s second XI, set 50 years ago by J Franklin.
Yet despite his valiant effort, Kings still prevailed to make it five from five at the top of the table after earlier piling up an imposing 332-7 from their 40 after winning the toss, Chris Burrow (86) and opener Andy Downes (81) leading the way.
It was a day to remember too for captain Rob Birch who smashed 176 (20 fours, 11 sixes) for Apperley 3rds who held off their Arcadian Nine Elms counterparts by ten runs in Division Nine C.
Prince Thekkethil top scored on 80 in the visitors reply while there were also half centuries from skipper Benny Koshy and Jomon George.
Huntley were set a target of 209 away to Bream in Division Seven A, and got there with plenty to spare thanks to opener Alastair Bressington’s unbeaten 142 from 95 (20 fours, four sixes).
Division One pacesetters Corse & Staunton saw off Redmarley by 96 runs, Matt Brown capturing 4-18 from nine while Cheltenham 2nds and Tetbury tied in a thrilling finish.
Tetbury totalled 225-8 after winning the toss, Sam Price hitting 72 and captain Alex Evans an unbeaten 53.
Thiwanka Kekulawala responded with 91 from 81 for the home side before falling to James Job who then kept his nerve in the final over which incredibly went for only one run as three wickets fell.
No runs were scored from the first two balls of the over before the next two deliveries produced two run outs. As the tension ratcheted up even further, a leg bye then tied the scores before Job held a return catch off the final ball to ensure the points were shared in the most dramatic way imaginable.
Dumbleton 2nds made it five from five in Division Two, easing past Poulton by 166 runs, George Garratt finishing with 5-35 from nine.
And Cam opened their account with an 86-run home triumph over Westbury-on-Severn, Dane Hall top scoring on 93.
Lee Hodson had the distinction of carrying his bat for Hawkesbury Upton 3rds, finishing on 109 from 104 (18 fours, one six) in a Division Nine E clash, Murray Rowlands grabbing 6-28 from eight for visiting Cam 3rds who then came up 62 runs short.
And in Division Nine D, Will Tidmarsh grabbed 5-13 from six overs as Charlton trumped Central Hall by six wickets.
