TEWKESBURY produced a fine team display on the road to ease past holders Frocester by five wickets in the First Class Comms Gloucestershire Cup.
Opener Harindu Jayasekara dominated the home side’s challenge of 219-7 after losing the toss, compiling 125 off 117 (13 fours, five sixes) before falling to Archie Freeth who finished with 3-45 from his eight.
In reply, Tewkesbury made steady progress towards their target with runs coming throughout the order, led by opener James Whitmore (50) as passage into the next round was clinched with ten balls to spare.
It was a good day too for Downend who dispatched Bourton Vale by 94 runs after rattling up an impressive total of 300-7 after winning the toss at the WG Grace Memorial Ground.
Opener Cyrus Shafi took centre stage with an unbeaten 127 from just 94 (14 fours, seven sixes) while former captain Matt Jackson blasted 56 from only 38.
Bourton, in reply, were always on the back foot with only Max Shepherd’s defiant 58 from 24 (five fours, five sixes) impeding Ollie Louch (3-12).
Bristol Pakistanis pulled out of their home date against Golden Hill.
One match was scheduled in the First Class Comms Gloucestershire Trophy, but Chipping Sodbury conceded their clash with Bedminster.
BRISTOL and Golden Hill will be flying the flag for WEPL on Sunday in group finals in the ECB National Club Championship.
Bristol are preparing to host Premier One rivals Bridgwater while Golden Hill will entertain Penzance, both games start at 1pm.
PAINSWICK booked their place in the last 32 with a hard earned 13-run home win over Marshfield in the Gloucestershire group final in the Voneus Village Cup.
Jon Conolly (71) and Luke Woolway (54) top scored as Painswick, after losing the toss, totalled 249-6 from their 40.
And the home side then had to dig deep to close out the win after Jeremy Bond threatened to grab the spoils with some big hitting at the death, eventually perishing for 66 off just 40.
He was held by Conolly who also followed up his efforts with the bat by taking a crucial 2-40 from eight, Dave Bennett weighing in with 2-43 from six.
Painswick are now preparing for a trip to Horspath, in Oxfordshire, on June 22.
Also through are Dumbleton who dispatched Astwood Bank by seven wickets in the Worcestershire playoff, Freddie Sharp taking 3-29. The 2022 champions and last season’s beaten finalists will now be home against Pelsall.
Aston Ingham, who received a walkover in the Herefordshire & Powys group, face a trip to Loddington & Mawsley, in Northamptonshire.
Main image: Jon Conolly on the attack for Painswick in their Voneus Village Cup victory over Marshfield. Image courtesy Philip Wilcox.
