BRISTOL West Indian Phoenix maintained their tremendous start to the season with a convincing fourth straight win, overpowering Frenchay by six wickets to remain top of the Senior Division in the Martin Berrill Sports Bristol & District League.
The two sides started the day with unbeaten records, and it was BWIP who went marching on after bowling out the home side for 125 and then taking the points in less than 22 overs.
The seam combination of Omar Wiggins (3-43) and Jack Baber (2-25) made the breakthrough before left-arm spinner Yash Patel (3-14) took charge.
Opener Raj Chudasama (47) and captain Cole Pierre (32) then put BWIP – determined to bounce straight back to WEPL after last season’s relegation – on course for the victory.
Stapleton, who also dropped down last year, cruised past bottom side Coalpit Heath by six wickets.
There were three wickets each for Billil Ali, Ash Birkinshaw and Chris Phillips before Chris Ledbury (42) and Phillips (42 not) saw Stapleton to the points.
Pak Bristolians made it two in a row with a nine-run home victory over Hanham, openers Abdur-Rehman and Ismail Zia (52) both completing half centuries.
Bristol Pakistanis stretched their 100 per cent run to four at the top of Division One with a 145-run win away to Downend 2nds.
There were two fine innings for the visitors. Opener Malik Haroon was on course for what surely would have been the fastest century of the summer to date before he was stumped for 89 off just 42 deliveries (14 fours, four sixes).
And Jawad Khan followed up with an equally powerful 108 from 75 (nine fours, eight sixes) before Shayan Irfan (5-35) slowed the scoring.
Downend’s pursuit of a target of 308 then faded against Hamza Shahid (5-26).
It was closer at Knowle 2nds who closed out a five-run win against Whitchurch, opener Tyler Anderson top scoring on 84.
Unbeaten Division Three leaders Bitton were six-wicket winners at Backwell Flax Bourton who were restricted to 142 after losing the toss, Tom Phillips top scoring on 51 before falling to Dennis Mullings (5-19 from eight). Joe Fletcher (48) then helped steer the visitors to the points.
In Division Seven, a second century of the summer from George Amos was a highlight of Taveners’ 11-run home success over Bishopston 3rds.
And there were two fine solo displays in Division Nine for OB Westbury 3rds who romped past Wrington by 243 runs.
Captain Richard Glynne-Jones was 160 not out in a challenge of 339-7 before Rahmatullah Bidi’s burst of 5-9 from five helped complete the win.