Promotion rivals Apperley and Frocester 2nds were involved in a thrilling tie in Division One of the Gloucestershire League.
Frocester, chasing Apperley’s 235-8, were dismissed with five balls remaining, with Ashok Kumar the Apperley hero. He had Shafiq Maroofkhel caught for 15 to finish with figures of 3-52, while Devin Rogers picked up 3-31. Freddie Collinson top-scored for Frocester with 64, while Josh Brown made 76 for Apperley and Rogers 54. Ramearo Samuel took 3-52 for Frocester. Both teams picked up 15 points, which leaves third-placed Frocester 12 points adrift of Apperley with four games to play.
Leaders Tetbury stretched their advantage over Apperley to 12 points after their 10-wicket win over Poulton. Poulton, who won the toss, were skittled for 86 in 18.4 overs with Luke Ashen taking 7-52. Ashen then smashed eight sixes in a 25-ball 67 as Tetbury won in 6.3 overs.
Will Brisco returned figures of 4-2 in two overs as Rockhampton romped to a seven-wicket win against Thornbury 2nds. Needing 96 to win, Rockhampton reached their target in the 24th over.
Ullenwood Bharat, who have been involved in a number of tight finishes in Division Two this season, were at it again on Saturday when they overcame Cam by one wicket. Toriqul Islam compiled an unbeaten 88 to guide them to victory with eight balls remaining after Cam had made 226. Jake Dolbear took 3-34 for Cam. Earlier, Dolbear had top-scored for Cam with 71 while Santosh Gopinath was the most successful of the Ullenwood bowlers with 3-13.
Quedgeley & Hardwicke new-ball bowler Adam Hopkins took 5-33 as leaders Gloucester AIW Sports were bowled out for 235. Opener Ali Khalid made 65 and that innings was to prove crucial as Quedgeley & Hardwicke closed on 201-7 with Uzair Salehbhai taking 3-31.
Second-placed Dumbleton 2nds, who are 10 points off the pace, were given a scare before getting home by two wickets against Kingsholm. New-ball bowler Luke Bond, who took all 10 wickets against Westbury-on-Severn in June, picked up 7-18 in his nine overs as Dumbleton slumped to 44-8 in reply to Kingsholm’s 118. But Arthur Sweeting held firm with an unbeaten 66 to steer his side to victory in the 33rd over. Sweeting had earlier taken 2-11 in nine overs.
Grant Spencer made 113 from 93 balls in Woodmancote’s four-wicket win over Westbury-on-Severn, who made 194-8. Ryan Bignall took 3-34 for Woodmancote.
Chris Burrow (100) and Chris Downes (86) laid the platform for Division Three leaders Charlton Kings 2nds’ 305-4 against Shurdington, putting on 189 for the first wicket. Shurdington closed on 226-9 with Tom Knight, who had earlier taken 3-37, top-scoring with 84. Jack Styman contributed 54 while Matt Bower picked up 3-25 for Charlton Kings.
Newent’s game against Fairford went down to the last ball of the 40th over with opener Jack Cowles their hero with an unbeaten 118 in their three-wicket win. Olly Taylor took 3-34 for Fairford. Earlier, opener Chris Clayton had made 104 of Fairford’s 226 all out, while Liam Devries picked up 4-46 for Newent and Ben Allard 3-46.
Kyle Swanepoel made an unbeaten 133 – his fifth century of the campaign – as second-placed Great Rissington rushed to a 10-wicket win over Rockhampton 2nds. Rockhampton had made 189-5 with opener Brendan Hughes making an undefeated 102. Casper Geen took 3-37.
Hamad Zazai, batting at seven, hit an unbeaten 71 to help Cranham reach 192-9 against Kingsholm 2nds in Division Four. That was 63 runs too many for Kingsholm, who were dismissed in the 36th over with Ian Richardson grabbing 4-22.
Skipper David Bates compiled an unbeaten 72 as Corse & Staunton 2nds overhauled Sheepscombe’s 156 with six wickets and eight overs to spare.
Maroof Ahmadzai took 5-24 as Gloucester 2nds bowled out Bibury for 80 in 13.5 overs in Division Five. That gave Gloucester a 183-run victory after Ryan Hooper (63) and Lloyd Harrington (52) had put on 131 for the first wicket. Rich Wills took 4-42 for Bibury.
Sam Beardsmore made an unbeaten 111 from 103 balls as Hatherley and Reddings 3rds overhauled Winchcombe’s 226 all out with five wickets and three overs remaining. Earlier, Nawaz Mucadam made 61 for Winchcombe while Denish Patadia collected 3-41 for Hatherley. The win sees third-placed Hatherley close the gap on Winchcombe to 11 points, while they trail leaders Down Hatherley by 28 points.
Division 7A leaders Highnam Court squeezed home by one wicket with four balls remaining against Penallt & Redbrook, who made 203-9. Opener Jason Mosley was the key player for Highnam Court, making 100, while Steffan Jolley was their most successful bowler with 3-40. Guy Adams top-scored with 61 for Penallt & Redbrook and Vipin Sathy was the pick of their bowlers with 3-19.
