GLOUCESTERSHIRE O50s’ second XI are into the quarter-finals of their ECB Championship after completing a thrilling two-wicket home victory over Oxfordshire, at Corse & Staunton.
The visitors, who lost the toss, reached 222-7 from their 45 overs, Paul Fredericks finishing with 4-49 from eight while there were also fine spells from Tim Smith (0-27) and Sam Gunaratne (1-38, both from nine).
Gloucestershire then paced their reply to perfection, getting over the line with five balls to spare thanks to opener Steve Witcomb (49), Tim Smith (42 from 35) and Steve Jones (49) while there was also a crucial unbeaten stand of 28 between Mike Grey (18) and Fredericks (nine).
Gloucestershire will now be home to Wales in the last eight, again at Corse & Staunton, on Wednesday August 2 (1pm).
Win of the week came at Stowell Park where Gloucestershire O60s’ third XI dispatched Buckinghamshire by ten wickets.
Andy Malpas’ return of 5-22 from nine helped reduce the visitors to 108 all out before Simon Mezsaros (70) and Len Attard (30) wrapped up the victory in the 29th over.
It was tighter at Ladock where Gloucestershire O60s’ second XI completed an 18-run triumph in a rain-hit clash against Cornwall.
Andy Bolton (40 not) top scored in the visitors’ challenge of 151-7 from 41 before Cornwall came up short against the accurate Steve Pennington (2-20), Mike Pearson (2-16) and Dave Tudor (2-34, all from seven).
Keith Daniels, meanwhile, continued his summer to remember with 140 in Gloucestershire O70s’ 57-run success away to Warwickshire.
Batting at five, Daniels faced 116 balls, striking 20 fours, to totally dominate his side’s challenge of 248-6 before Warwickshire finished short against Howard Johnson (1-26 from nine) and Phil Dickenson (0-19 from seven).
Gloucestershire O50s were pushed hard by Worcestershire before closing out a seven-run victory at Westbury-on-Severn.
England international Richard Trotman cracked 133 from 108 (16 fours, two sixes) as the home side piled up 276-9.
And Worcester pushed hard for the win as Dave Millard (4-47 from nine) put the squeeze on, assisted by Pars Ghadiali (1-34 from seven) and Pradhyuman Patel (1-47 from nine) with Trotman following up with three wickets.
Gloucestershire’s final group game, away to Wales, was washed out. And that means Razi Ahmed’s side will now be away to Somerset in the last 16 of the knock out stage, on Sunday at Minehead.
Gloucestershire O60s, meanwhile, host Hertfordshire in their opening knock out match at Painswick on Tuesday (1pm).
CHIPPING Campden proved to be a hugely successful host venue for England Over 60s who on Monday beat Australia by 49 runs to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match Grey Ashes series.
England reached 289-7 from their 45 overs in front of a large crowd before Australia slipped from 191-3 to 240 all out.