BRISTOL West Indian Phoenix moved back into pole position with a commanding five-wicket home triumph over previous leaders Frenchay in the Senior Division of the Martin Berrill Sports Bristol & District League.
The visitors, who lost the toss, never recovered from a devastating opening spell from Jack Baber (3-25) while Yash Patel’s return of 3-26 off nine also helped see Frenchay fold to 113 all out.
In reply, BWIP lost two early wickets to Eddie Williams but opener Raj Chudasama’ gritty 46 from 66 helped his side establish a seven-point advantage with five more rounds of games to go in the race for the title and the two promotion places to WEPL.
Frenchay are still 27 points clear of third-placed Stapleton who squeaked in by two runs away to Coalpit Heath who were fourth at the start of the day.
Opener Vishal Sanghavi and Callum Birkinshaw both struck 47 for the visitors, Alex Long grabbing 3-15 from nine. Heath’s reply made a strong start thanks to openers Chris Cooke (63) and Mark Baldwin (35) but both fell to James Slade (3-41) as Stapleton turned the screw and kept their nerve in a tight finish.
Relegation battling Hanham lifted spirits with a 38-run home triumph over Pak Bristolians, Dan Jackson hitting 69 and Jack Alway claiming 3-23 from nine.
Division One leaders Clevedon 2nds were 69-run home victors against Shirehampton but Bristol Pakistanis and Lansdown 2nds, second and third respectively, both lost.
Andy McEwan’s unbeaten 62 saw Downend 2nds to a three-wicket win away to Bristol Pakistanis despite Azeem Malik’s burst of 4-29 while Lansdown suffered a four-wicket derby reverse at Hampset.
Knowle 2nds moved out of the bottom two with a 25-run trumping of Whitchurch, Fred Barton (4-48) and Neil Brown (3-47) inflicting the damage.
Hambrook’s lead at the top of Division Two was trimmed to just three points following a four-wicket setback away to nearest rivals Cleeve for whom opener Sam Williams (65) and James Ball (50) top scored.
And Bitton remain top of Division Three despite a one-wicket home defeat against second-placed Backwell Flax Bourton for whom Sam Stokes took 3-25 and hit a crucial unbeaten 34.
At the other end of the table, Matt Hunt’s unbeaten 89 helped secure a valuable three-wicket home win for relegation battling Failand & Portbury over OB Westbury 2nds.
Graham Purnell produced one of the bowling performances of the day for Division Four leaders Bradley Stoke 2nds, finishing with 6-9 from eight to seal a 79-run home over promotion rivals Bristol 3rds.
Bristol Sri Lankans, meanwhile, stretched their lead at the top of Division Five with a 51-run victory away to second-placed Barrow Gurney.
Batting hero in an all out total of 212 was Amarajeewa Mudiyanselagae who crunched 114 off only 63 deliveries, peppering a memorable innings with seven fours and 12 sixes.
Kishan Payyana’s haul of 5-27 plus opener Aswin Jose’s 75 (retired) spurred Division Six leaders Bristol Aces to a nine-wicket home victory against Claverham 2nds.
Steve Frankcom rolled back the years with an unbeaten 148 (21 fours, two sixes) for Pucklechurch 2nds who blitzed Thornbury 4ths by 161 runs in Division 13.