DOWNEND are preparing for life back in the top flight after defeating Clevedon to build an unassailable lead at the top of WEPL Premier Two Bristol/Somerset.
Callum Loud’s side emerged comfortable seven wicket winners against their North Somerset visitors, and were able to crack open the champagne after news came through that other results had also gone their way.
Clevedon were dismissed for 181 after winning the toss, Phil Jackson taking 4-44, before opener Maz Khan, against his former club, compiled an unbeaten 80 from 109 balls (10 fours, three sixes) to seal the spoils.
Downend, who dropped down from Premier One in 2021, now have a 44-point lead and cannot be caught with two rounds of games to go.
Golden Hill remain third despite a four-wicket defeat at struggling Taunton Deane who chased down a target of 320 with four balls to spare.
In Premier One, fourth-placed Bristol held their nerve for a thrilling one-wicket victory at Burbage & Easton Royal thanks to a batting master class from Gloucestershire’s James Bracey.
The opener struck the winning boundary with just a ball to spare, ending the day unbeaten on 116 from 134 after striking eight other fours and three sixes.
The next highest scoring batter was Nic Halstead Cleak on 19 as Bracey took charge of the chase with a second successive WEPL century after Burbage had earlier been restricted to 201-9 after winning the toss. County colleague Josh Shaw was in fine form, finishing with 4-23 from ten.
Bishopston were skittled for only 64 by Potterne who romped in by nine wickets, and Frocester succumbed by 104 runs at Taunton St Andrews.
Thornbury, the Premier Two Glos/Wilts champions, extended their unbeaten run with an 83-run home success against Hatherley & Reddings, opener Josh Riggs crashing 82 off only 52.
Dumbleton slipped up by 95 runs at home to Goatacre while Corsham trumped Painswick by 162 runs and Cheltenham came off second best at struggling Avebury, by 16 runs.
Gloucestershire division champions Tewkesbury went down by 104 runs at home to Stroud for whom Ewan Gegg hit 91 and followed up with 4-25, and Jiwanjot Singh’s 179 from 138 (26 fours, one six) powered Chipping Sodbury to a 155-run triumph at Bourton Vale.
Ed Goolden’s 92 helped steer Corse & Staunton to a six-wicket success at Frocester 2nds, while Gavin Williams produced one of the bowling displays of the day to bag 6-19 from nine and see Charlton Kings to a 27-run victory at Gloucester, and Langford edged Rockhampton by 39 runs, opener Ollie Perks unbeaten on a dogged 92 from 150.
Knowle, meanwhile, kept alive their hopes of promotion from Bristol & North Somerset with a six-wicket win at Bedminster 2nds, Mark Coombes (67) and Jake Luffman (64) sharing an opening stand of 131.
Skipper Richard Trotman reached three figures with the winning boundary for Twyford House in a four-wicket success away to Bath 2nds, Bristol 2nds breezed past Stapleton by eight wickets and Bristol West Indian Phoenix dispatched Bradley Stoke by 91 runs with Neiland Cadogan top scoring on 102 from 87 (eight fours, five sixes).
Brislington lost by 32 runs at leaders OB Westbury despite Cameron George’s burst of 4-30 from ten and captain Chris Munden’s 52.