OLLIE Horne and captain Liam Brignull turned in superb performances for Charlton Kings who overcame high flying Dumbleton by two wickets in WEPL’s Gloucestershire division.
Horne reduced the home side to 35-4 with a fine early burst en route to final figures of 5-29, Rupert Salmon digging in for an unbeaten 90 off 125 in a challenge of 224-7 after winning the toss.
And Kings then got over the line thanks mainly to Brignull who compiled an unbeaten 121 off 135 (13 fours, one six), defying Fraser Loveday who bagged 4-35.
Dumbleton remain second but lost ground on leaders Painswick who were 75-run victors at Tewkesbury, Sam Hewitt (3-34) the pick of the attack.
Cirencester moved up a place to third after thumping Rockhampton by 190 runs, Jono Jamieson-Black’s unbeaten 112 off 91 (16 fours and a six) the highlight of a total of 278-7.
The Rams then came up well short, Jock Jamieson-Black (2-17), James Boyle (2-22) and Ellis Sabbath-Holt (2-0 from two) all making their mark.
Apperley are still looking for a first win after a six-wicket home reverse against Bourton Vale, captain Charlie Garratt top scoring on 80, and Aaron Tuck’s spell of 4-29 helped Frocester 2nds to a 59-run triumph at Gloucester.
Half centuries from Praneel Choughule and Tom Bradley were in vain as Thornbury suffered a 119-run setback at Potterne in Division One where Bedminster, second at the start of the day, went down by eight wickets away to leaders Bath.
Bristol, the Premier Two Bristol/Somerset pacesetters, held off Downend by 31 runs, Louis Shaw’s third five-wicket haul this month proving crucial.
Golden Hill are up to fourth thanks to an eight-wicket win at Frome, Zeeshan Malik finishing unbeaten on 101, but Bishopston fell to a seven-wicket defeat at Midsomer Norton and Winterbourne wilted to a nine-wicket setback at home to Ilminster.
Frocester remain top of Premier Two Glos/Wilts despite losing by 42 runs at home to Hatherley & Reddings for whom Lesego Senokwane (110) and Bobby Brito (104) shared an opening stand of 186.
Corse & Staunton held off Corsham by three wickets but Cheltenham slipped up by 110 runs at home to Burbage & Easton Royal and Stroud felt the full force of Gloucestershire’s Benny Howell (164 not) in a two-wicket defeat.
A third century of the summer from Ollie Haines (above, image courtesy Ian Rice) helped set up Knowle’s 198-run home victory over Bath 2nds in the Bristol & North Somerset division, opener Ryan Pietersen also hitting 100.
It was far tighter at Bradley Stoke where Brislington nipped in by one wicket, and also at Bristol 2nds who lost by the same margin at home to second-placed Congresbury.
Twyford House dispatched Bedminster 2nds by 174 runs, Tom Armfield bagging 5-41, and Keynsham were equally emphatic winners at OB Westbury, coasting in by nine wickets.