Jack O’Connell bowled a double-wicket maiden to secure a dramatic three-run win for Lydney over Cirencester in Division One of the Gloucestershire League.
Cirencester, chasing Lydney’s 175-9, needed five to win going into the final over but O’Connell struck with his third and sixth deliveries to finish with 5-36. The only run from the final over was a leg bye, and the thrilling finish follows Lydney’s one-run win over Rockhampton a month ago.
Peter Smith took 5-32 for Rockhampton, but it was in a losing cause as his side went down by 36 runs to Frocester 2nds. Frocester made 202 thanks in large part to a fourth-wicket partnership of 109 between Freddie Collinson (66) and Ramearo Samuel (63). Archie Baker then took 3-18 and Louis Sabbagh-Holt 3-19 as Rockhampton were bowled out in the 42nd over.
Second-placed Tetbury thumped Cheltenham Civil Service by 183 runs after making 279-7. Tom Horrell (104) and Ben Evans (100 not out) put on 148 for the third wicket before James Job picked up 4-35 and Jacob Flowers 3-8 as Cheltenham Civil Service were dismissed in the 27th over.
Randeera Ranasingha crunched an unbeaten 122 from 107 balls in Tewkesbury 2nds’ 264-6, a total that was 145 too many for Thornbury 2nds. Thornbury were dismissed at the start of the 31st over with Charles Snow collecting 4-33.
Skipper Craig Stow led from the front as Redmarley enjoyed a 149-run win over Quedgeley & Hardwicke in Division Two. Stow top-scored with 61 in his side’s 201-9 and then took 4-9 in nine overs as the visitors were shot out in 19.5 overs. Harry Malcolm claimed 3-7.
Uzair Salehbhai grabbed 5-39 as unbeaten leaders Gloucester AIW Sports clinched their 10th win of the campaign. Ullenwood Bharat were bowled out for 174, a total Gloucester AIW Sports went past in the 25th over with Mo Jabbar unbeaten on 61.
Cam were dismissed for 74 by Kingsholm, despite an opening partnership of 47, as they tumbled to a 101-run defeat. Oakleigh Roe took 6-11 for Kingsholm while Jack Ellis claimed 4-15 after skipper Luke Bond had earlier top-scored with 66. George Dollond was the most successful of the Cam bowlers with 3-32.
Harry Arthur returned the excellent figures of 7-39 as Hatherley and Reddings 2nds defeated Westbury-on-Severn by 105 runs. Westbury were bowled out in the 31st over after Daniel Anderson had earlier taken 3-19 in Hatherley’s 232-9.
Churchdown remain on top of Division Three, but they were pushed all the way by Newent before edging home by two wickets and four balls to spare. Newent made 227-8 with Will Trumper top-scoring with 66 while Andrew Brooke took 3-35 for Churchdown. Freddie Fabian was the pick of Newent’s attack with 3-34.
Michael Scarrott took 5-46 as Great Rissington clinched a four-wicket win over Cheltenham 3rds. One of his victims was Mohammed Rahman, who top-scored with 84. In-form opener Kyle Swanepoel then made 50 for Rissington, but they had to work hard before getting home with seven balls to spare.
Will Hartley made 103 for Fairford but his side still went down to a 39-run defeat against Chipping Sodbury 2nds. Chipping Sodbury made 304-5 with the bulk of the runs shared between Callum Mealing (80 not), Matt Peach (65), Daniel Peach (59 not) and Alexander Gooding (51). Olly Taylor took 3-61 for Fairford.
Mason Beasley picked up 5-28 as Shurdington bowled out Rockhampton 2nds for 130, a total they overhauled for the loss of seven wickets.
Bourton Vale 2nds raced to an eight-wicket win over Cinderford St John after restricting them to 168-9 in Division Four.
Adam Tarrant took 6-42 while Mitchell Scorer (71) was Cinderford St John’s main run-getter before Bourton knocked off the runs inside 26 overs with Dev Gunti (79) and Andy Phillips (66 not out) putting on 130 for the first wicket.
Whitminster skipper Ben French made an unbeaten 125 from 99 balls as his side eased to an eight-wicket win over Corse & Staunton 2nds. Cameron Randall took 3-48 as Corse & Staunton made 197-7, with Ben Morton their top scorer with 65.
Khalil Amiri claimed 5-41 as Gloucester 2nds defeated Cricklade by 60 runs in Division Five. An unbeaten 66 from 58 balls by Taj Ahmadzai had earlier helped Gloucester post 226-5.
Harry Davies took 5-38, and Siddarth Shaw chipped in with 3-22 as Stroud 2nds were dismissed for 112 by Winchcombe, who knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets.
Pranav Timmaraju took a wicket with the fifth ball of the final over to earn Birdlip & Brimpsfield a tie with Barnsley Beeches in Division 7B. Barnsley Beeches, requiring 162 to win, had been 137-4 at one stage. Timmaraju finished with 3-20 while Shankar Sundaramahalingam top-scored for Barnsley Beeches with 55. Saikrishna Sunkara had earlier picked up 5-31 for Barnsley Beeches.
