GLOUCESTERSHIRE booked their place in next week’s Over 60s 2nds’ Vase final with a tremendous four-wicket home victory over Suffolk at Stroud.
The visitors, who lost the toss, reached 224-4 from their 45, Andy Kear finishing with 2-29 from six while Matt Cannon (1-26), Tim Smith (1-41) and Dennis Mullings (0-29, all from nine) also produced testing spells.
Gloucestershire needed a strong start and got it through James Cotterill (94) and Smith (61), who shared an opening partnership of 132 while an unbeaten 35 from David Yates helped get his side over the line with two overs to spare.
Next up for Steve Pennington’s side is a trip on Tuesday to Valley End, of Chobham, Surrey, and a clash for the silverware with Hampshire who cruised past Bedfordshire by ten wickets.
It was a good day also for the Over 60s 4ths who defeated group leaders Essex by five wickets in a clash at Birdlip which was reduced to 30 overs per side.
Richard Graham (2-13 from three), Alistair Kilfoil (1-12), Keith Morris (1-22) and Phil Dickenson (1-30, all from six) helped restrict the visitors to 133-6.
And Gloucestershire then paced their reply to perfection, completing the win with just two balls to spare, skipper Tom Parsons (54) and Keith Daniels (29) paving the way with an opening stand of 67.
The 60s’ 3rds, though, were unable to complete a clean sweep as they went down by eight wickets at Frocester against Surrey despite the efforts of top scorer Mike Pearson (45).