SIMON Gwynne was held three runs short of a century for Cinderford St John who went on to beat Great Rissington by 31 runs and move off the bottom of Division Two in the AMS Gloucestershire County League.
The opener and Balasingam Sivathas (48) dominated Saints’ challenge of 237 after winning the toss at home, visiting captain George Garratt rewarded with a return of 6-57 on the hottest day of the summer. Rissington ultimately came up short despite Giles Wellman’s unbeaten 67 and 41 from Garratt as Saints closed out their second win.
Leaders Lydney, meanwhile, cruised in by 142 runs at home to Cam who were rushed out for 68, Alex Gooding taking 3-11.
Opener Will Lowe cracked 117 off 95 (15 fours, four sixes) in Division One for Kingsholm who trumped Chipping Campden by 29 runs, and Anthony James’ unbeaten 118 from 106 (13 fours, four sixes) helped Aston Ingham chase down a target of 250 at Thornbury 2nds with four wickets in hand.
Josh Morris (4-25, including the hat-trick) and Jiwanjot Singh (65) shone for leaders Chipping Sodbury who eased past neighbours and closest rivals Hawkesbury Upton by four wickets.
Fairford moved up a place to second in Division Three thanks to a tense last over two-wicket home victory over leaders Frampton-on-Severn. Dan Huxstep’s 56 saw the visitors to 157-9, Olly Taylor and Will Bowers taking three wickets apiece, before contributions throughout the order saw Fairford to the points with four balls to spare.
Hatherley & Reddings 2nds, second at the start of the day, suffered a seven-wicket reverse at bottom side Dumbleton 2nds despite 125 from Sam Dent. Opener Nick Schubach was caught behind two runs short of his ton as bottom side Dumbleton closed out only their second win of the summer chasing 243 with nine balls to spare.
Captain Alex Evans finished unbeaten on 53, after earlier taking 4-33 from eight, as lowly Tetbury saw off Tewkesbury 2nds by four wickets.
Cheltenham Civil Service 2nds held their nerve for a tremendous one-wicket win away to Division Four leaders Dymock with two balls in hand. Half centuries from openers York Senior and Matt Barratt lifted Dymock to 226-6 after losing the toss before James Clarkson (70) and Steve Bridge (63) helped see the visitors to a surprise win.
Kingsholm 2nds were knocked off the top of Division Five following a 66-run setback at Minchinhampton. James Gant finished unbeaten on 99 and Liberty Maher hit 64 in Minch’s challenge of 269-5 ahead of the visitors coming up well short at 203-8.
Quedgeley & Hardwicke stretched their led at the top of Division Six with a 55-run triumph away to nearest rivals Apperley 2nds, Ben Hopkins (3-17) and Ed Ball (3-26, both from eight) shining.
And opener Haranadh Yarra was unbeaten on 67 as Division Seven pacesetters Aracadians Nine Elms eased past Oaksey by eight wickets.
Main image courtesy Mike Starling