TAYYAB Riaz (pictured, image courtesy Ian Rice) stroked an unbeaten 121 and followed up with 3-14 for Golden Hill who opened with a 61-run victory away to Old Bristolians Westbury in the WEPL’s Bristol & North Somerset division.
The visitors were wobbling at 29-4 when Tayyab took charge, hitting 13 fours and four sixes off 105 deliveries. The next highest scorer in a total of 209-6 was Cyrus Shafi on 31 as George Willis captured 4-44 from his nine.
In reply, the home side made a solid start through Ben Harris (40) and Russ Baker (33) but slid from 67-1 to 108-5 and finished well short.
It was closer at Congresbury where Twyford House squeezed in by one wicket.
Star of the show was Tom Armfield who followed his 4-27 with a battling unbeaten 49 off 94 balls (five fours and a six) as Twyford rallied from 27-3 and 122-8 to reach their target of 152.
Captain Olly Sharp crashed 74 from just 38 balls (11 fours, two sixes) to propel Stapleton to a seven-wicket success away to neighbours Bristol West Indian Phoenix.
Brislington were in a strong position at 93-2 off 19, chasing 146 at local rivals Keynsham, when rain forced play to be abandoned. And it was the same story at Knowle who were 58-2, in reply to Bristol 2nds’ challenge of 166, when the rain had the last word.
Jack Whiting dug in for a terrific century to help pave the way for Gloucester to make a winning start to the new season, completing a 72-run home success over Bourton Vale in the Gloucestershire Division.
The opener’s side slipped to 14-2 after winning the toss but Whiting, who went to reach 114 off 110 balls (15 fours, three sixes), and Dan Brabham (36) pointed the way to a useful total of 285-9 before skipper Tom Collinson (4-36 from nine) turned the screw in the field.
Robbie Baker’s 95 was in vain for Cheltenham Civil Service who succumbed by three wickets in a rain-affected clash at Apperley while opener George MacDuff’s 95 and a haul of 5-34 from Tom Hayward were the highlights of Painswick’s 99-run victory away to Thornbury 2nds.
Frocester 2nds nipped in by one wicket away to Cirencester, skipper Sam Birch standing tall with an unbeaten 70, and Corse & Staunton held off Rockhampton by five wickets, Matt Cox top scoring on 87.
In Premier One, Cheltenham dispatched Taunton Deane by 143 runs, Josh Breed (88) and Sam Didcote (4-18 from nine) both shining.
Bedminster slipped by 99 runs at Chippenham and Downend came up 34 runs short in a rain-hit home date against Lansdown, Jordan Garrett top scoring on 81.
Dumbleton held off Biddestone by 26 runs in Premier Two Glos/Wilts, Will Sharp (4-36) and Tom Green (2-27) both shining, and skipper Uzi Qureshi steered Frocester to a three-wicket triumph at Hatherley & Reddings with an unbeaten 92 from 123 (nine fours, two sixes).
Thornbury, who are keen to celebrate their 150th anniversary with promotion, completed a tense 11-run home victory over Goatacre.
Josh Riggs hit 65 off only 35 (seven fours, five sixes) as Thornbury stuttered to a total of 185 before following up with a return of 2-28 in tandem with fine work from Harry Wormwell (4-41).
Stroud, meanwhile, came unstuck by 154 runs at home to Corsham.
In Premier Two Bristol & Somerset, Winterbourne held their nerve for a one-run home triumph over Midsomer Norton.
Owen Lingard (58) lifted the South Gloucestershire side to 229-9. And there were then three wickets apiece for Chris Shine, captain George Ford and Darren Vickery in a tight finish.
Bristol were six-wicket home victors over Bath 2nds while openers Tommie Predgen (52) and Max Harsham (40) could not save Bishopston from a 91-run reverse at Taunton St Andrews.