DAN Whincup top scored with an unbeaten 91 to guide Frocester to a potentially pivotal four-wicket home win over Goatacre in the big WEPL Premier Two Glos/Wilts promotion battle.
Frocester began the day a point ahead of their Wiltshire rivals in the race for the one promotion place but ended it 15 clear and their destiny in their own hands with only two rounds of games to go.
Goatacre, who lost the toss, were all out for 266, Joe Wadham (3-47) leading the attack before Frocester timed their chase to perfection, getting over the line with four balls to spare.
There were half centuries from opener Chris Calcott and Harry Senior but the innings of the day came from Whincup who faced 95 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and two sixes.
Next up for Frocester is a trip to Hatherley & Reddings who were skittled for only 48 away to Corsham who coasted in by eight wickets.
Cheltenham saw off Marshfield by seven wickets, Worcestershire’s Gareth Roderick unbeaten on 120 (11 fours and a six), but Corse & Staunton were edged out by a wicket at Burbage & Easton Royal and Stroud find themselves bottom after an eight-wicket reverse away to fellow strugglers Warminster.
Thornbury edged a step closer towards safety in Premier One with a 64-run victory away to Bridgwater, Praneel Choughule capturing 4-56. And skipper Sai Kamuni turned in another outstanding all-round display for Bedminster, hitting 72 and taking 3-41 to help ensure a 69-run win away to Clevedon.
Sam Bracey’s second successive century could not save lowly Winterbourne from a seven-wicket reverse at home in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset to Golden Hill for whom Harry Thomas smashed an unbeaten 103 off only 63 (10 fours, seven sixes).
Champions Bristol crushed Frome by 179 runs, Downend were edged out by one wicket at Midsomer Norton and Bishopston dispatched Weston-super-Mare by seven wickets, Will Thirkell taking 4-2 from ten.
Gloucestershire division leaders Painswick saw off Bourton Vale by six wickets, George MacDuff top scoring on 66, while second placed Dumbleton were 45 run victors at Gloucester where Ryan Kilmister claimed 3-27.
Brothers Jono (4-33) and Jamie Jamieson Black (60 not) dominated Cirencester’s six-wicket home defeat of Charlton Kings while Tewkesbury trumped Frocester 2nds by 89 runs and Apperley held off fellow strugglers Rockhampton by three runs.
Keynsham stay top of the Bristol & North Somerset division after defeating Knowle by 78 runs while second-placed Congresbury were 141-run winners at home to Brislington.
Bradley Stoke are out of the bottom two courtesy of a 100-run home success over Bath 2nds, Dan Laver top scoring on 65 while there were four wickets apiece for Dan Qureshi and Owen Onslow.
OB Westbury find themselves bottom after a 33-run reverse away to drop zone rivals Bedminster 2nds for whom captain Joe Shean (92) and opener Joe Millard (81) were amongst the runs.
And Parik Shetty’s first century for Twyford House helped pave the way for a 115-run triumph away to Bristol 2nds, Alec Bosomworth also hitting 65.
Main image courtesy Brian Rossiter @BrianRossiter1