ASTON Ingham kept alive their hopes of a Lord’s final with a dramatic one-run home victory against Colwall in the latest round of Voneus Village Cup ties.
Opener Gus Carini-Roberts top scored on 45 while both Anthony James and captain Alex Gooding hit 34 in the home side’s challenge of 212-7 after winning the toss.
Aston Ingham’s Gus Carini-Roberts scored 45 against Colwall, image courtesy Philip Wilcox
Colwall then came desperately close to victory in a titanic struggle, rallying from 187-9 amid rising tension to go into the final over needing just eight more runs for the win.
Gooding entrusted the final six deliveries of the match to his son Frankie who under considerable pressure stepped up in style to deliver the victory.
He conceded two runs from both the first two balls while Colwall edged closer to their target with a single and then a bye to need just two from two. But the batters went for a risky single off the fifth delivery and James swooped to complete the run out to spark great scenes of celebration.
Aston Ingham are now through to the Herefordshire & Powys group final on June 8 when they will be home against West Malvern.
Dumbleton also progressed after dispatching Harrington by ten wickets in the Worcestershire group, Aaron Tomson claiming 4-30 ahead of Max Bolam (81) and Lewis Rollinson (55) wrapping up a comprehensive victory.
The 2022 champions and last year’s runners up now take on Astwood Bank or Hagley who meet on Sunday.
Painswick cruised into the Gloucestershire final, racking up 351-8 at home to Bourton Vale who were then dismissed for 151.
Captain Luke Woolway hammered 127 off just 61 (nine fours, 11 sixes) while Reece Morris shone with the ball, capturing 3-18.
Painswick will now be home to Marshfield who had a walkover against Rockhampton.
Langford’s run in the Oxfordshire group came to an end with a four-run home reverse against Horspath despite the efforts of Tom Stevens (53).
EIGHT first round matches in the First Class Comms Gloucestershire County Trophy are scheduled to take place on Sunday.
Full draw: Apperley v Bristol West Indian Phoenix 2nds, Chipping Sodbury 2nds v Bedminster 3rds, Cirencester v Frenchay 2nds, Frampton-on-Severn v Great Rissington, Gloucester AIW v Kingsholm, Golden Hill 2nds v Rockhampton, Langford 2nds v Quedgeley & Hardwicke, Lydney v Pak Bristolians 2nds.
BRISTOL and Golden Hill are both through to group finals in the ECB National Club Championship.
Josh Dinan top scored on 114 from just 59 (seven fours, 11 sixes) for Bristol who trumped Potterne by 41 runs on the road in Group Nine, Jake Carstens capturing 3-52 including the crucial wicket of Basil Akram for 123.
And Golden Hill overcame Usk by 48 runs in Group Ten, John Colley crashing 82 from 41 and Imraan Manack an unbeaten 48 off 23.
Bristol will now be home to Bridgwater, conquerors of Bishopston by seven wickets, and Golden Hill will entertain Penzance who had a walk-over against Paignton.
THE next stage of WEPL qualifiers for the ECB National Club T20 will take place on Sunday.
A total of 17 teams have been placed in five pools to produce five winners. And there will be a further playoff between two sides to reduce this number to four which will take part in WEPL finals day.
Groups of three will play each other while it will be straight knock out in pools of four. First named club will host.
Group One: Chipping Sodbury, Frocester, Tewkesbury.
Group Two: Bridgwater, Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, Midsomer Norton.
Group Three: Bristol, Bedminster, Twyford House, Bristol West Indian Phoenix.
Group Four: Bath, Potterne, Corsham.
Group Five: Swindon, Golden Hill, Burbage & Easton Royal.
Main image: Frankie and Alex Gooding celebrate Aston Ingham’s memorable win. Courtesy Philip Wilcox
