CAPTAIN Will Naish led from the front as Frocester timed their chase to perfection, completing a two-wicket victory with four balls to spare away to Burbage & Easton Royal in WEPL Premier One.
The home side posted a total of 278-5 after winning the toss, Richie Cave claiming 2-58 while there were also useful spells from spinners Ryan Kilmister (1-44) and Gloucestershire’s Ed Middleton (1-48, both from ten).
Opener Max Dunne (94) and Uzi Qureshi (47) then put Frocester in a useful position at 157-1 only for Burbage to rally with a series of breakthroughs.
But while wickets tumbled at the other end, Naish kept a cool head to finish unbeaten 69 from 47, hitting the first two balls of the final over for six and then four to bank the points and move his side up to fifth after five rounds of games.
Newcomers Thornbury squeezed out a tremendous nine-run win away to Bath, Gloucestershire’s Chris Dent (67) and captain Harry Thomas (64) top scoring for the visitors ahead of spinner Josh Thomas helping close out the win with a fine spell of 4-45 from ten, including the vital wicket of Bath captain Harry Ellison in the final over for exactly 100.
Downend battled hard before succumbing by two wickets away to leaders Bridgwater but Bristol made it two wins in six days at Potterne, following up a national cup triumph with a fine 23-run victory, while Bedminster humbled Taunton St Andrews by nine wickets.
Dumbleton suffered a first setback in Premier Two Glos/Wilts, losing by 175 runs at home to Goatacre. And that slip up allowed Royal Wootton Bassett to go top courtesy of a four wicket home victory against Hatherley & Reddings.
Painswick were trumped by 51 runs at home to Chippenham and Tewkesbury fell by 80 runs at home to Corsham, but Cheltenham were 108-run winners at Purton where captain Josh Breed finished with fine figures of 4-9 from eight.
Golden Hill remain second in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset after edging Congresbury by 13 runs, John Colley claiming 3-24 at the death with his flight and guile but Bishopston slipped up five wickets at home to Weston-super-Mare.
Bourton Vale made it five from five to go clear at the top of the Gloucestershire division, easing past Thornbury 2nds by seven wickets, Max Shepherd leading the attack with a return of 4-23 from ten.
Langford suffered their first setback after being bowled out for 109 at home to Chipping Sodbury for whom captain Tom Laver took 4-18 from 7.4 in a seven-wicket success.
Anthony James and opener Gus Carini-Roberts, meanwhile, paved the way for Aston Ingham’s 88-run home defeat of fellow newcomers Hawkesbury Upton.
James finished unbeaten on 113 from only 75 (15 fours, four sixes) while opener Gus Carini-Roberts hit 107 off 137 (14 fours, one six) in an imposing total of 317-2.
And James then followed up with an excellent return of 4-24 from 9.1 to wrap up the win.
Frocester 2nds secured their first victory of the campaign, defeating Gloucester by 90 runs, and Charlton Kings were four-wicket victors at Stroud where New Zealander Matt Gibson struck with 4-20 from nine overs of sharp left-arm seam.
Twyford House continued their fine start in Bristol & North Bristol, extending their 100 per cent record with an 11-run triumph away to Bradley Stoke & Almondsbury.
Promoted Frenchay are up to second after making it three in a row with a 52-run success away to Pak Bristolians while Bristol West Indian Phoenix dismissed Knowle for 91 en route to a five-wicket win.
Bristol 2nds edged Brislington by 31 runs and Bedminster 2nds eased past bottom side Bristol Pakistanis by six wickets.
