CAPTAIN Alex Gooding led from the front with a superb all-round display as leaders Lydney romped past local rivals Cinderford St John by 75 runs in Division Two of the AMS Gloucestershire County League.
Gooding (84) and Jordan Stone (57) dominated the home side’s total of 232-8 after winning the toss. And Gooding (pictured, image by Mark Elson, courtesy of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Review) followed up with terrific figures of 6-29 from 7.5 overs as Saints finished well short to remain in the drop zone.
It was a good day too for another captain as Jack Cowles produced a memorable 136 for Newent who dispatched Shurdington by 117 runs.
The opener smashed 19 fours and two sixes off 117 balls, and shared a second wicket stand of 180 with Richard Henry (72) as their side surged to an imposing total of 285-4. Shurdington then struggled with the bat as Karl Mortimer grabbed 4-22 from seven and Henry followed up with a return of 2-23 from eight.
Cheltenham Civil Service closed the gap on Division One leaders Chipping Sodbury with a 21-run home triumph over their rivals. The visitors appeared to be in charge at 109-4, chasing 174, but Jack Harrod (4-14 from three) and Denish Patadia (3-23) proved too difficult to handle.
Third placed Hawkesbury Upton went down by five wickets at home to Westbury-on-Severn for whom opener Jake Bonser (81) top scored.
Fairford are the new leaders of Division Three thanks to a 103-run home defeat of Bourton Vale 2nds which was completed as previous pacesetters Frampton-on-Severn succumbed by 61 runs at Hatherley & Redding 2nds.
Opener Jay Goddard’s 103 not out set Fairford on their way before Matt Dyson tidied up with a return of 4-32 while Owen Price (4-20) and Joe Tutty (3-19) were the bowling stars for Hatherley.
Cricklade, who top Division Four, completed a 23-run triumph away to high flying Cranham, Alex Kill just missing out on a second league ton of the summer when he finished unbeaten on 98.
There was a tie in Division Five, Charlton Kings 2nds and Kingsholm 2nds finishing all square. And it was level pegging too in Division Six where leaders Quedgeley & Hardwicke and Gloucester 2nds could not be separated in another exciting finale.
Pete Lavis, the league’s leading run scorer, cracked his third ton of the summer for bottom side Stone who went down by 54 runs at Haresfield Gladiators.
Division Seven leaders Arcadians Nine Elms suffered a first defeat, losing by 37 runs at Down Hatherley for whom Luke Brick (4-17) and C J McLean (3-3 from 2.3) starred. And Sam Holdway’s burst of 5-28 ensured Oaksey closed out a 26-run win away to Langford 2nds.