CONNOR Humphreys finished with memorable figures of 8-10 from just six overs as Sheepscombe cruised past Lydney 2nds by 231 runs in Division Five of the AMS Gloucestershire County League.
The visitors were skittled for only 26 in less than 12 overs, Humphreys leading the charge as he bowled five of his victims and trapped three more lbw to claim the best bowling analysis so far this summer throughout the entire league.
Earlier, Sheepscombe reached 257-9 after losing the toss thanks mainly to Jack Thomas whose 134 off 98 featured 20 boundaries.
Leaders Cheltenham 3rds, meanwhile, boosted their title hopes with a commanding 131-run home triumph over nearest rivals Whitminster, Paul Turner grabbing 4-45 and Will Johnson-Coleman 3-6 from two as Ross Wakely carried his bat for a defiant 76 from 70.
Will Tope’s burst of 4-26 helped restrict Cheltenham Civil Service 2nds to a total of 194 ahead of Down Hatherley cruising in by nine wickets, openers Martin Collier and captain Shane Trigg hitting 86 and an unbeaten 80, respectively.
Hawkesbury Upton are the new leaders of Division One after trumping previous pacesetters Aston Ingham by six wickets.
Matt Beamish (4-25 from nine) helped peg back Aston Ingham to 172 before captain George Bailey’s unbeaten 82 at the top of the order saw the home side over the line.
Thornbury 2nds remain third following a 57-run success away to Cheltenham Civil Service while Cirencester moved off the foot of the table with a four-wicket home win against Kingsholm, Alex Tatara-Mills shining with a return of 6-23 from nine.
Tetbury, the Division Two pacesetters, saw off Cam by 63 runs, Tom Wand bagging 4-32 from eight, but second placed Cheltenham 2nds lost ground with a three-run reverse at home to their Tewkesbury counterparts despite the efforts of Mohammed Rahman (73) and skipper Stefan Hunt (51 not).
Division Three strugglers Cricklade recorded only their second win of the summer, edging Cinderford St John by 10 runs, James Barton top scoring on an unbeaten 67 and Adam Robbins capturing 4-44.
And Nemika Benthota plundered 102 off just 60 (11 fours, three sixes) for Hatherly & Reddings 2nds who defeated Dymock by 97 runs.
Max Beer’s fine spell of 6-35 proved to be in vain for Charlton Kings 2nds who went down by 35 runs at home to Churchdown in Division Four where Woodmancote and Quedgeley & Hardwicke tied a thriller, Ben Hopkins grabbing 5-21.
Division Six leaders King’s Stanley recorded an emphatic 183-run home victory against Arcadian Nine Elms with second placed Langford 2nds edging Winchcombe by 11 runs, Tom Puckey capturing 5-12.
And in Division Seven, leaders Tetbury 2nds went down by 14 runs away to second-placed Cam 2nds who now trail the pacesetters by only nine points.
At the other end of the table, bottom side Oaksey recorded only their second victory of the campaign, edging Ruardean Hill by two wickets.