Hatherley & Reddings won a remarkable game at Cheltenham in Premier 2 Glos/Wilts of the West of England Premier League. The game swung one way, and then the other before Hatherley overhauled the home side’s 292-5 with four wickets and eight balls to spare.
Cheltenham won the toss but soon found themselves in trouble at 17-3 before being steadied by a fourth-wicket partnership of 107 between George Pritchard (60) and skipper James Boyle (46). But when they were separated, the wickets started to tumble again with the home side slumping to 144-7 before being rescued by an eighth-wicket partnership between Ben Pegler, who made an unbeaten 83 from 65 balls batting at nine, and Stan Brown, who made 66.
In reply, Hatherley were well placed while fourth-wicket pair Jack Taylor (83 from 64 balls) and Vihanga Kottawasinhage (41) were together, but three wickets in three overs saw them slip to 189-6 at the end of the 35th over. But the game had one more twist because skipper Tom Hage (54 not out from 45 balls) and George Driver-Dickerson (39 not out) steered their side to an excellent victory.
Archie Freeth claimed 4-19 in 5.3 overs as Tewkesbury defeated Corsham by 16 runs in a rain-affected game. Corsham had been chasing 231 in 42 overs after Tewkesbury had earlier posted 246-9 in their 50 overs, with Josh Barnes leading the way with 72.
Thornbury eased to a five-wicket win in Premier One after restricting Potterne to 119-8 in 31.2 overs. They were then required to chase a revised target of 82 in 20 overs, something they managed with five wickets and more than seven overs to spare.
Newly-promoted Dumbleton, who had lost their first two matches by one wicket off the final ball of the game, suffered more disappointment when their match against Bridgwater was abandoned. Chasing a revised target of 194 from 20 overs, they were 153-2 from 14.4 overs after opener Ewan Gegg had thumped 69 from 36 balls. Earlier, Bridgwater had reached 146-1 from 23.1 overs.
Callum Loud and skipper Jordan Garrett both made quicker than run-a-ball centuries as Downend crushed Congresbury by 196 runs in Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset. Opener Loud made 134 from 99 balls – 11 fours and nine sixes – while Garrett hit 18 fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 140 from 136 balls. They put on 176 for the third wicket as Downend reached 335-7 before Congresbury were dismissed in the 33rd over.
Connor Crane held the innings together with an unbeaten 72 as Old Bristolians Westbury overhauled Taunton Deane’s 180-6 for the loss of seven wickets.
Twyford House also enjoyed a successful run chase, getting home by four wickets after reaching their revised target of 171 in 44 overs with more than eight overs to spare against Clevedon.
Golden Hill maintained their good early-season form by rushing to an eight-wicket win over Weston-super-Mare in a rain-affected game. They reached their revised target of 142 from 34 overs with eight wickets and more than 14 overs to spare, with Sam Brooks unbeaten on 86 from 76 balls after the home side had earlier been dismissed for 153 in 34 overs.
Mohamed Jezuli (55) and Abdul Sami, who made 52 from 22 balls batting at nine, helped take Downend 2nds to 261 in Bristol and North Somerset, but it still left them short of Keynsham’s 278-9.
A leg bye from the final ball earned Cheltenham 2nds a thrilling tie at Charlton Kings on a day when almost 700 runs were scored in the Gloucestershire Division clash. Charlton Kings, who were put into bat, made 343-7 with James Williams leading the way with 124 from 106 balls, while Charles Watkins made 60. Cheltenham got their runs for the loss of eight wickets with Nemika Benthota falling four short of his century, while Chris Williams contributed 72 and Adam Stuart 60.
A run-a-ball unbeaten 55 by Matt Brown helped Corse & Staunton to a three-wicket win over Gloucester after the visitors had posted 197-9 thanks in large part to Lafras van Vuuren’s unbeaten 93.
And Kudzai Maunze’s 142 from 148 balls helped Hawkesbury Upton to 278-4 and a 91-run win over Stroud in a rain-affected game.
Davis Newcombe picked up 5-54 for Hawkesbury while Don Spanner top-scored for Stroud with 81.
