GLOUCESTER AIW retained the First Class Comms Gloucestershire Trophy with a fine team effort to overcome Cirencester by 72 runs at Poulton.
The day began well for AIW who won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first on a flat deck and taking advantage of a lightning fast outfield.
Openers Mo Jabbar (31) and Ali Khalid (30 off 15) set the tone with Uzair Salehbhai (48 not), Shaheer Raja (34) and Abu Saleh (20) all establishing themselves at the crease.
And the innings was given late momentum by Imtiyaz Baxa whose 39 from 30 balls included eight fours.
Tom Harvey was the leading Ciren bowler with a return of 2-29 from his eight while there were also two wickets for James Bassett as AIW eventually totalled 251-7 from their 40 overs.
In front of a good crowd, the holders then put the pressure on with the ball, taking wickets at regular intervals, Mohammad Saleh leading the way with figures of 4-40 while Abdullah Ruhi supported well with a return of 3-45 from eight.
Ciren slipped from 106-4 to 119-9, but that was the signal for wicketkeeper Aden Vaughan to go on the attack in style, hammering nine boundaries in a run-a-ball 69 that featured nine fours.
Losing finalists Cirencester
He put on 60 for the final wicket before being caught as AIW completed a second successive win after last year overcoming Pak Bristolians in the final at Thornbury.
AIW now turn their attentions back to the league and their pursuit of the Gloucestershire League Division Three title.
They’re currently second, 16 points behind leaders Woodmancote and 20 ahead of Quedgeley & Hardwicke – who they overcame by 47 runs on Saturday – with two more rounds of games to go.
WINTERBOURNE will be bidding for glory on a national stage when they travel to Wokingham on Sunday.
The South Gloucestershire club are through to the regional finals of the ECB’s Vitality Club T20 Plate where they will meet Waltham in a last four clash.
The winners will then immediately face Rugby or Wellington in the final, with the triumphant team going forward to the national final at Wormsley in Buckinhamshire on September 14.
Winterbourne, representing the Bristol & District League, booked their trip to Wokingham after defeating Gorseinon by 49 runs at home.
Veteran Damian Lingard thumped 46 off 32 (six fours, two sixes) as his side totalled 181-7 after losing the toss, Corey Kislingbury also hammering a quick-fire 31 from 16.
Nabeel Ahmad then led the charge with the ball, taking 3-13 from three while there were also two wickets apiece for Mason Lingard and captain Ben Parker as the Welsh visitors were bowled out for 132 in the last over.