BROTHERS Andy and Simon Weeks both cracked maiden WEPL centuries as Thornbury 2nds ended their long wait for a first win of the summer, chasing down a target of 304 at home to their Frocester counterparts in the Gloucestershire division.
Harindu Jayasekara had earlier smashed 181 off just 128 (19 fours, 10 sixes) to dominate the visitors’ imposing total of 303-9, George Wrigley capturing 4-51.
But it proved to be well within range for Thornbury who finally broke their duck, and in some style with more than five overs to spare.
Skipper Andy was first to go, for 138 from 133 (18 fours and a six) in an opening partnership of 283 – a club record in the Play Cricket era – while Simon fell one run later for 117 from 122 (17 fours, three sixes).
The new leaders are Chipping Sodbury who went top with an eight-wicket success away to previously unbeaten leaders Bourton Vale.
The home side, who won the toss, slipped from 106-5 to 126 all out, Jamie Rendell capturing 4-8 from 7.3 overs of spin.
And openers Rohan Wijeratne (62) and skipper Tom Laver (36) then wasted no time in wrapping up the points in 19 overs.
Newcomers Aston Ingham are up to third after trumping Langford by 92 runs, Mikey Gooch claiming 4-27 from eight while Charlton Kings were three-wicket victors at Hawkesbury Upton, Karan Sharma shining with a haul of 4-33, and Gloucester edged Stroud by three wickets, wicketkeeper Joe Sligh digging in for an unbeaten 57.
Maz Khan had an outstanding day with ball and then bat as Premier One newcomers Downend saw off Bath by seven wickets at the WG Grace Memorial Ground.
Khan was the pick of the Downend attack, finishing with 5-49 from ten overs of left-arm spin, as the visitors’ challenge faded to 219 all out after winning the toss.
In reply, Downend lost an early wicket before Khan and Zaman Shafi (31) shared a stand of 105 while an unbroken partnership of 89 between captain Callum Loud (57) and Khan then wrapped up the points.
The all-rounder, appropriately, reached his century with the match-winning boundary, finishing on 103 off 158 (16 fours and a six) as Downend wrapped up their third win since being promoted.
Promoted Thornbury are back up to third courtesy of a seven-wicket win away to Frocester, opener Chris Gibson unbeaten on 118 from 127 (16 fours, three sixes).
But Bristol slipped into the bottom two following a 55-run reverse away to high-flying neighbours Bedminster.
Captain Myles Holland bludgeoned 102 from 63 (eight fours, eight sixes) and followed up with 3-41 from ten for Dumbleton who trumped Tewkesbury by 44 runs in Premier Two Glos & Wilts.
Hatherley & Reddings dispatched struggling Purton by six wickets, Ben McShane bagging 6-49 from ten, while Painswick were 75-run victors at Cheltenham, Alastair Conolly finishing with 5-50.
Brislington are the new leaders of Bristol & North Somerset after overcoming previous pacesetters Twyford House by four wickets.
Opener Henry King (75) and tail ender Alex Wilson (65 not) lifted Twyford to 296-9 after winning the toss at home.
And Josh Whitemore (75 not) and opener Milo Ayres (69) then got Bris over the line with eight balls to spare.
Bristol West Indian Phoenix are up to second following a 66-run victory away to Frenchay which featured a tremendous 139 from 125 (22 fours, two sixes) from captain Ashur Morrison and Neiland Cadogan’s burst of 4-42.
Andy Rasemene’s spell of 4-29 and 3-31 by skipper Oli Haynes ensured a 179-run win at Bedminster 2nds for Knowle who are up to fourth.
And Bradley Stoke & Almondsbury were 30-run winners at promoted Pak Bristolians where Cam Hawkins crashed an unbeaten 129 from 108 (15 fours, four sixes).
Dan Laver also weighed in with 69 and followed up with three wickets.
Bristol Pakistanis remain bottom of the table after a seven-wicket home reverse against Bristol 2nds for whom opener Shazil Mustafa top scored on 57.
