QUEDGELEY & Hardwicke cruised to a nine-wicket victory away to Charlton Kings 2nds to move up a place to second in Division Four of the AMS Gloucestershire County League.
The home side reached 191-9 after winning the toss, Adam Hopkins capturing 4-22 from eight, ahead of Quedgeley coasting to their target thanks to openers Ben Hopkins (68) and Mike Carratu (61 not) while Ryan Hooper weighed in with an unbeaten 36.
Quedgeley banked 21 points from their latest win, enabling them to edge two clear of Bourton Vale 2nds.
And with away matches looming later this month against both leaders Woodmancote and Bourton Vale, Quedgeley’s promotion hopes are now firmly in their own hands.
Aston Ingham, the Division One pacesetters, cruised past bottom side Cirencester by five wickets, Alex Gooding (4-22 from seven) and Dan Smith (3-12 from three) inflicting the damage.
Thornbury 2nds, who began the day in the runners up slot, suffered a surprise three-wicket reverse at struggling Great Rissington for whom opener Sam Buckfield top scored on 76.
And that result enabled Hawkesbury Upton to move up a place to second courtesy of their six-wicket win away to Lydney which featured an unbeaten 69 from captain George Bailey.
Division Two leaders Tetbury demolished win-less Newent by 250 runs, Ben Evan hitting 93 while there were three wickets apiece for Alex Wyer and Phil Cook, while second placed Cheltenham 2nds saw off Apperley by 153 runs, Nirvaan Jain finishing with memorable figures of 5-7 from 5.5 overs.
Dumbleton 2nds, who sit on top of Division Three, slipped up by 44 runs away to nearest rivals Hatherley & Reddings 2nds for whom Nemika Benthota compiled an unbeaten 83.
And at the other end of the table, Dymock climbed out of the drop zone with a five-wicket victory away to relegation rivals Cinderford St John.
Whitminster took advantage of Division Five pacesetters Kingsholm 2nds losing at home to Parkend to defeat Lydney 2nds by nine wickets and go top instead, Matt Clutterbuck top scoring on 75.
One of the innings of the day came at Down Hatherley where opener Martin Collier’s 94 helped pave the way for a seven-wicket success over Minchinhampton.
Apperley 2nds began the day at the foot of Division Six but a 15-run home triumph against Winchcombe moved them up to eighth while leaders Langford marched on with a 116-run success away to Upton St Leonards, Tom Puckey claiming 4-11 from eight.
Tetbury 2nds and Cam 2nds, the top two sides in Division Seven, both lost.
Tetbury went down by four runs at Eastcombe despite a haul of 6-53 by skipper Jamie Ponting while Cam succumbed by four wickets at home to Ruardean Hill for whom Nick Jayne took 4-10 from eight.