This week's cricket round-up by Steve Hill 

WEPL

TEWKESBURY opened up a 14-point lead at the top of WEPL’s Gloucestershire division with a convincing 55-run victory away to nearest rivals Gloucester.

Something had to give with both sides coming into the game with 100 per cent records, and it was Tewkesbury who marched on thanks to strong displays with bat and then ball.

Randeera Ranasingha, batting at eight, gave the visitors’ innings a late boost with an unbeaten 69 from 58 (10 fours, one six) to help lift the total to 249 all out after Luke Whitmore had earlier struck 53, Ben Johnston and John Barlow both taking four wickets.

Gloucester, in reply, were in contention at 163-5 only for the innings to fade away, Tom Stevens finishing with 4-38 from ten.

Bourton Vale cruised past Stroud by ten wickets, Ollie Whiteley hitting 89 against his former club and Mark Whitney 87 while third-placed Charlton Kings edged promoted Langford by 23 runs.

Chipping Sodbury and Rockhampton both opened their accounts, trumping Frocester 2nds and Corse & Staunton, respectively.

In Premier Two Glos & Wilts, unbeaten leaders Thornbury marched on with a four-wicket success at Goatacre while promoted Dumbleton are up to third following a 250-run home pounding of Cheltenham which featured 112 from Tom Kelly before Ollie Horne (6-21 from nine) and Ross Martin (3-29 from eight) struck with the ball.

Painswick remain second following a 55-run home win against Hatherley & Reddings, Luke Woolway top scoring on 69 and Paul Conolly capturing 5-35 from ten.

Max Tryfonos was central to Bedminster’s first win in Premier One, cracking 142 and taking 5-52 to ensure a 76-run victory at Taunton St Andrews while Bristol continued their impressive start with a 143-run success at Bridgwater, opener Nic Halstead Cleak cracking 106 and Kiwi Curtis Heaphy 101.

Bishopston slipped to a 19-run home reverse against Lansdown despite Gus McKenzie’s 96 and 68 from Josh Slade, and Frocester came up 64 runs short at home to newcomers Burbage & Easton Royal.

The top of the table clash in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset went the way of Golden Hill, by 16 runs, but Downend remain top with their lead reduced to three points.

Key performers for Golden Hill were Zaman Shafi with 59 and skipper Daz Ahmed who returned 4-30 from ten.

Knowle made it four from four at the top of Bristol & North Somerset, romping past neighbours Brislington by ten wickets. Andrew Rasemene set the tone with a burst of 5-21 before opening pair Mark Coombes (75) and Jake Luffman (62) took charge.

OB Westbury were also ten wicket winners, at home to Bath 2nds with Ben Jarman (79) and Ross Whyte (78) steering their side to the spoils.

Bristol West Indian Phoenix bowled out Stapleton for 73 en route to a nine-wicket pounding, Bristol 2nds edged Twyford House by 103 runs and Bradley Stoke continued their strong start with a five-wicket success away to Bedminster 2nds, Ash Baber banking 4-20 from ten.

 

GCCL

KINGSHOLM batters hit their straps in style with three players scoring centuries in the latest round of AMS Gloucestershire County League matches.

Openers Shaun Uthup (123) and Pavel Sharma (100 not) made the most of skipper Dan Adcock winning the toss at home for the 2nds in Division Five against Minchinhampton, piling up a total of 266-2 to pave the way for a 122-run victory.

And it was a good day too for the first XI in Division One, James Boon cracking 104 in a total of 243-6 away to Great Rissington who finished 36 runs short to hand Kingsholm a welcome first victory of the campaign.

Leaders Hawkesbury Upton marched on with an eight-wicket pounding of Cirencester, Matt Beamish claiming 3-15 from nine while closest rivals Thornbury 2nds overcame Lydney by 36 runs.

Jack O’Connell finished with fine figures of 5-32 from nine as Thornbury were dismissed for 153 but the home side’s attack then had the final word, all six bowlers used claiming wickets, led by Ruben Pieterse (3-35).

Poulton inflicted a first defeat on Tetbury, who started the day top of Division Two, allowing Cheltenham 2nds to grab pole position courtesy of a 105-run hammering of Cam, Amith James capturing 4-12 from six.

And skipper Jack Brixey’s 88 was a highlight of Tewkesbury 2nds’ 116-run home triumph against Apperley.

Gordon Wint’s unbeaten 87 guided Dymock to a last over four-wicket home win over Chipping Sodbury 2nds in Division Three.

And back in Division Five, captain Tiaan Theron led from the front with an unbeaten 129 at the top of the order for Sheepscombe who went on to brush past Parkend by 121 runs.

Three wickets apiece for Harsha Songa and Rajesh Gopireddy put Division Six pacesetters Arcadian Nine Elms on course for a six-wicket home success over Gloucester 2nds.

Ben Lane top scored with 61 for Cam 2nds, the Division Seven leaders who marched on with a six wicket home triumph over their Painswick counterparts, and Tetbury 2nds remain second following a 67-run home victory against Oaksey that featured a half century from opener Martin Smith, Jamie Ponting following up with a haul of 4-28 from eight while Tom Selwood then claimed 3-2 from seven balls.