OPENER Ollie Whiteley compiled an unbeaten 123 to help pave the way for Stroud to record their first win of the summer, trumping Chipping Sodbury by 61 runs on the road in WEPL’s Gloucestershire division.
Whiteley faced 147 balls and stroked 18 fours with brothers Ewan (70) and Callum Gegg (57) also making their mark in a total of 295-3 before Sodbury came up well shot despite half centuries from Ollie Louch and captain Jamie Rendell.
Leaders Tewkesbury made it three in a row with a six wicket home success over Gloucester, Tom Stevens taking 3-29 from ten.
And a first win for Frocester 2nds ensured a first defeat for Dumbleton, Richie Cave claiming 5-46 from ten while Rhys Lamplugh (66) and Alex Ireland (52) impressed with the bat as the point were bagged with three wickets and one ball in hand.
Bourton Vale are also off the mark following a 104-run home trumping of Charlton Kings, and Cirencester eased in by five wickets at Cheltenham Civil Service, Declan Rugg taking 4-49 from ten.
Unbeaten Bristol continued their strong start to life back in Premier One, Jack Shelley taking 4-14 from ten and following up with 72 from 59 in a four-wicket win at Frocester.
Bedminster are off the bottom following a six-wicket home defeat of Lansdown which featured an unbeaten 129 from 121 by Gloucestershire prospect Ollie Meadows (13 fours, five sixes) after Muhammad Tayyab Nasir had earlier bagged 5-33 from ten.
Hatherley & Reddings are up to third in Premier Two Glos/Wilts following an eight-wicket success at Corse & Staunton.
Andre Soma’s 4-44 helped restrict Corse to 191 before Lesego Senokwane (74 not) and Zain Syed (61) led the charge for the visitors.
Josh Breed hit a half century and took 3-37 in Cheltenham’s 45-run home triumph against Marshfield while Thornbury extended their unbeaten start to the campaign with a six wicket success at Painswick, Tom Vermaak bagging 4-38 and captain Marc Lezar top scoring on an unbeaten 67.
Downend closed out their first win in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset, trumping Weston-super-Mare by seven wickets, captain Callum Loud, Matt Jackson and Will Duggan all taking three wickets.
Golden Hill suffered a first reverse, at Ilminster, while Bishopston saw off Bridgwater 2nds by six wickets, Josh Slade and Dan Harris finishing with three wickets apiece.
Bristol 2nds made it three in a row in Bristol & North Somerset, chasing down a target of 306 at home to Frenchay with Harry Arthur out for 153 off 95 (15 fours, nine sixes).
Tyrone Isitt had earlier blasted an unbeaten 105 from 95 (six fours, eight sixes) for the visitors.
Captain Will Thomas led from the front with 101 for Brislington, 42-run home victors against Bedminster 2nds while Bristol West Indian Phoenix succumbed by 88 runs at home to Congresbury.
Opener Curtis Blakemore hit 92 for Knowle who trumped Winterbourne by 166 runs, and Twyford House finished 87 runs short at home to Bath 2nds.