DUMBLETON held their nerve in a pulsating finish to clinch a dramatic two run win at Tewkesbury to stay top of WEPL Premier Two Glos/Wilts and remain in control of their promotion destiny with just one more round of games to go.
The home side lost their last three wickets in only five balls as Dumbleton pulled the victory out of the fire to remain 11 points clear of nearest rivals Goatacre, who triumphed by two wickets at Royal Wootton Bassett … who Dumbleton now host on Saturday.
Tewkesbury’s Wade Ridsdale claimed 6-24 and was a helpless spectator at the other end on 19 as the late wickets fell, Angus Catto grabbing two late strikes after earlier spells from Dan Hammond (3-22) and Ross Martin (3-39).
Hatherley & Reddings saw off Purton by 59 runs, Ganesh Gadugu unbeaten on 99, while Painswick edged Cheltenham by one wicket, opener Reece Morris shining with 124 from 93 (18 fours, four sixes).
In Premier One, Bristol trumped high flying Bedminster by 22 runs, Jake Carstens hitting 38 and following up 3-36 while Frocester squeaked in by one wicket at Thornbury, Wil CORRECT Foley top scoring on 77. Downend’s relegation was confirmed with a 180-run reverse away to Bath.
Relegation battling Bishopston, meanwhile, rushed to an eight-wicket derby win at Golden Hill in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset, Ed Nuttall bagging 3-22 and Arnold Otwani cracking 69.
Bish now wrap up their campaign with a home clash against champions Midsomer Norton.
Chipping Sodbury remain five points clear at the top of the Gloucestershire division despite a five wicket home defeat against nearest rivals Bourton Vale.
Will Faulkner finished with 3-27 for the visitors while Mark Whitney dug to hit a crucial unbeaten 67 for Bourton who now host Langford while Sodbury travel to relegated Thornbury 2nds.
Charlton Kings trumped Hawkesbury Upton by seven runs, rallying from 21-4 with Charlie Hunte (57) and Matt Gibson (45 not) taking centre stage.
Frocester 2nds were 126-run victors at home to Thornbury while Langford ended a run of six successive defeats with a two wicket home victory over Aston Ingham and Gloucester made it two in a row with a four wicket success at Stroud, Raju Devandran starring with a return of 4-16 from eight.
Brislington are the new leaders of Bristol & North Somerset and in pole position for promotion after defeating second-placed Twyford House while leaders Bristol West Indian Phoenix went down by 80 runs against Frenchay.
Francisco Couana crunched 112 from 94 (nine fours, six sixes) in a Bris challenge of 282-9 ahead of Twyford finishing well short on 245 despite Elliot Bevan’s 103 from 145 (14 fours, one six).
Tyrone Isitt thumped 86 to dominate Frenchay’s challenge of 244 at BWIP who never recovered from an excellent opening burst by Rishabh Singh who finished with 6-19.
It’s also very tight at the other end of the table. Pak Bristolians edged up a place to eighth, ending a run of five successive defeats with a six wicket win away to fellow strugglers Bradley Stoke & Almondsbury, Ismail Zia finishing with 4-19 from ten.
But Bristol 2nds remain bottom despite a six wicket home win against Bristol Pakistanis, Graham Herring (97) heading the run chase while Knowle saw off Bedminster 2nds by 22 runs, Mark Coombes batting all 45 overs for an unbeaten 77 from 129.
Image courtesy Brian Rossiter