BRISTOL Pakistanis celebrated their golden anniversary in style by lifting the Stuart Canvas Gloucestershire Trophy for the first time, seeing off Langford by three wickets in a memorable final at Frocester.
The village side made a flying start after winning the toss thanks mainly to opener Harry Stevens’ superb 82 off 56 (eight fours, four sixes).
But 100-1 soon became 151-7 as Saqib Imran (1-14 from eight) and Muhammad Sajjad (4-32 from 7.5) led a fightback in the field only for tail enders Ben Brown (28) and James Haley (25 not) to then give the innings a late boost to reach 228-9 off 40.
In reply, Bristol Pakistanis were soon on the back foot at 11-2 and then 59-4. But that set the scene for Babar Pervais to take centre stage with a tremendous 79 from 51 (six fours, five sixes).
And a similarly positive innings from Raja Arbaz then took the game away from Langford as he went on to finish unbeaten on 90 from 67 (five fours, seven sixes) with more than four overs to spare.
Spare a thought, though, for Langford, the 2021 champions and last year’s beaten finalists who were tantalisingly close to another win thanks to fine spells from Tom Stevens (3-24) and Ben Brown (3-53, both from eight).
Both sides now return to league action and the pursuit of a prized place in WEPL with Bristol Pakistanis still in with a chance of elevation from the Bristol & District League, and Langford pushing hard for promotion from the Gloucestershire County League.
BRISTOL West Indian Phoenix are into the last four of the Stuart Canvas Gloucestershire Cup after dispatching Bristol by five wickets.
Bristol, who lost the toss, struggled to 156 all out with Rishi Panchal (35) and Kerry Hopper (24) putting on 55 for the ninth wicket, Rushabh Yadav taking 3-37 from six.
Opener Vishal Mamgai (46) and Cole Pierre (43) then led the charge for BWIP who are now home to champions Bedminster on Sunday (1pm).
The second semi will see Twyford entertain Bishopston, on Sunday August 27.
BRISLINGTON will on Sunday stage Gloucestershire’s U19 T20 finals day.
The main pitch will host the performance play-offs with the development knock-out taking place on the adjacent second pitch.
Schedule – U19 Performance semi-finals, 10am: Golden Hill v Painswick to be followed by Dumbleton v Thornbury, and then the final.
Under 19 Development semi-finals, 10am: Kingsholm v Carsons & Mangotsfield to be followed by Frenchay v Great Rissington, and then the final.
The Under-16 finals day will take place at Chipping Sodbury on Sunday August 27.
APPERLEY Girls went out of the ECB Vitality Under-15 Club T20 after suffering a nine-wicket reverse at Neston against Porthill Park, of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
The Gloucestershire side reached 132-2 from their 20 overs, Megan Ahearne 61 not out off 51while Mille Downey added a run-a-ball 41 not out.
But the total proved to be well within range for Porthill who advanced to the final at Lord’s on September 2.