ABU Rahi crashed an unbeaten 99 from only 45 (nine fours, eight sixes) to help power Gloucester to a first win of the summer, pounding Thornbury 2nds by 195 runs in WEPL’s Gloucestershire division.
Despite losing the toss, the home piled up an imposing 326-6 ahead of Raju Devendran’s burst of 5-12 from five wrapping up the points.
Bourton Vale and Langford both made it four from four to remain tied together at the top of the table.
Openers Ollie Whiteley (98) and Arthur Hanson (67 not) ensured a nine wicket home victory for Vale against promoted Aston Ingham, and Langford brushed aside newcomers Hawkesbury Upton by 152 runs.
Captain Tom Laver’s unbeaten 130 from 118 (23 fours, one six) saw Chipping Sodbury to an eight-wicket home success over Charlton Kings, and Stroud dispatched neighbours Frocester 2nds by nine wickets, Ewan Gegg taking 4-35 and following up with an unbeaten 81.
Luke Woolway plundered his second century in four innings as Painswick inflicted a first defeat of the summer on Royal Wootton Bassett in Premier Two Glos/Wilts.
Batting at four, the wicketkeeper followed up his 105 against Dumbleton with 103 from 107 (nine fours, three sixes) as his side posted a challenging total of 295-7 from their 50 after losing the toss, opener Reece Morris and Matt Conolly both supporting with 38.
In reply, the home side were in good shape at 215-4 but the dismissal of opener Scott De Weymarn for 120, trapped leg before by Jarren Bacher (4-44), opened the door for Painswick and the innings faded away.
Dumbleton took full advantage, making it four from four with a 72-run triumph away to Corsham which enabled them to go 12 points clear at the top.
Charlie Garratt top scored on 79 as the visitors were bowled out for 249 ahead of Ollie Horne (4-35 from ten) leading the charge with the ball.
Tewkesbury were 97-run victors at Chippenham, opener Josh Richards shining with 73 and Archie Freeth claiming 3-26 from ten.
And there was a two-wicket derby win for Hatherley & Reddings at home to Cheltenham, Ganesh Gadugu’s unbeaten 86 the key after Joel Price had earlier taken 5-43 from ten.
In Premier One, Frocester went down by 69 runs at home to champions Potterne but Downend held their nerve for a one-wicket triumph away to Taunton St Andrews, spinner Masoor Khan finishing with fine figures of 4-13 from 9.5.
It was just as tense at Thornbury who suffered a last over one wicket reverse against Burbage & Easton Royal despite Gloucestershire’s Chris Dent powering his way to 131 off 128 (16 fours, three sixes) and Josh Riggs taking 5-67.
Bristol, meanwhile, were humbled by nine wickets at home to Bridgwater who went top of the table.
Golden Hill were four-wicket home victors against Weston-super-Mare in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset but Bishopston went down by 105 runs at Clevedon and OB Westbury slipped up by 19 runs at home to Lansdown.
Skipper Oli Haynes was another player to lead from the front with 50 and 5-26 from ten in Knowle’s 132-run home win against promoted Bristol Pakistanis in Bristol & North Somerset.
Milo Ayres took centre stage for Brislington against Bradley Stoke & Almondsbury, capturing 3-32 and crashing 76 from just 44 in a seven-wicket win.
Something had to give in the clash between the two 100 per cent teams, and it was Twyford House who emerged victorious with a two-wicket home triumph over promoted Pak Bristolians.
Abdur-Rehman Tabraiz’s 56 helped the visitors rally from 32-4 to 179, Chris Bolton (3-40) the pick of the attack.
And Twyford had to battle to complete the job, recovering from 20-4 to bag the points, Amey Milind Bhatkande remaining calm with an unbeaten 59 as wickets fell at the other end, Waqas Ahmad finishing with fine figures of 5-36 from ten.
Bristol West Indian Phoenix trumped Bristol 2nds by 82 runs, and club chair Mike Donaldson was unbeaten on 93 for promoted Frenchay in a comfortable six-wicket home success over Bedminster 2nds.
Image courtesy Brian Rossiter
