PAINSWICK are all but champions of WEPL’s Gloucestershire division and heading for promotion after being made to work hard for a three-wicket home win over Tewkesbury with Keegan Jansen Van Rensburg again central to the team’s success.
Captain Jack Hobbis (3-49) was the pick of the attack as Tewkesbury were bowled out for 225 after winning the toss.
And Van Rensburg then took total charge of Painswick’s reply, compiling his fourth league century of a summer to remember before he was run out for 125 off 138 (15 fours, three sixes) with only one run still needed, Matt Connolly (33) the next highest scorer.
Nearest rivals Dumbleton romped in by seven wickets at Charlton Kings who were rumbled for 140, Will Sharp capturing 4-30 from seven.
Painswick now wrap up their campaign on Saturday away to Cirencester while Dumbleton are home to Bourton Vale who romped past relegated Apperley by 121 runs, Ryan Hill taking 5-45.
Opener Johnny Griffiths was held three short of a century for Frocester 2nds and Aaron Tuck claimed 4-28 in a 112-run home pounding of Gloucester.
And relegated Rockhampton saw off Cirencester by 36 runs, Chris Willoughby and Cameron Brown taking three wickets apiece after Jonnie Gunn had earlier struck with 5-39.
Frocester, meanwhile, edged closer to the Premier Two Glos/Wilts title and promotion after cruising past Hatherley & Reddings by 61 runs, Uzi Qureshi unbeaten on 109.
Gareth Roderick’s second successive century paved the way for Cheltenham to dispatch Burbage & Easton Royal by 200 runs, but Corse & Staunton slipped to a 78-run home reverse against Corsham and relegation-battling Stroud went down by one wicket at Goatacre despite fine spells from Islamnabi Ahmadzai (5-54) and Northamptonshire leg spinner Alex Russell (3-34 from ten).
Centuries from captain Marc Lezar and Gloucestershire white ball captain Jack Taylor could not prevent a five-wicket home defeat for relegation-battling Thornbury in Premier One where Bedminster inflicted a first defeat of the summer on champions Bath, holding their nerve for a one-wicket success.
Bristol, the Premier Two Bristol/Somerset champions, edged another step closer towards a prized unbeaten record with a 72-run home win against Downend, Louie Shaw top scoring on 70.
Promoted Golden Hill consolidated second place with a ten-wicket humbling of relegated Frome, Gloucestershire’s Ajeet Singh-Dale (6-19) and captain Daz Ahmed (3-26) inflicting the damage.
Bishopston held off Midsomer Norton by two runs and relegated Winterbourne suffered an 80-run setback away to Ilminster.
Keynsham pulled clear in the race to be promoted from Bristol & North Somerset, trumping OB Westbury by 61 runs to take advantage of closest rivals Congresbury losing by five wickets at home to Bristol 2nds for whom opener Shazil Mustafa hit 74.
Parag Khanapurkar cracked 168 off 112 (19 fours, eight sixes) to put Brislington on course for a 204-run home victory over Bradley Stoke, Knowle lost by two wickets away to Bath 2nds and Bedminster 2nds boosted their hopes of staying up with a 60-run triumph away to Twyford House.