SUKESH Koshy plundered an unbeaten 143 for the 2nds while Oli Cranny marked his debut by top scoring on 101 for the first XI as King’s Stanley got the new Gloucestershire Cricket League (GCL) season off to a perfect start with two victories.
Koshy dominated his side’s challenge of 239-5 off 40 in a home Division Eight D clash against Upton St Leonards 2nds who came up 105 runs short, Liam Terrel claiming 4-19.
Australian opener Cranny, meanwhile, helped his side reach 287-7 in their Division Five trip to Gloucester 2nds who were pegged back to 203-9 and an 84-run reverse.
Four competitions – the Gloucestershire County League, the Stroud & District League, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Forest of Dean League along with the Cotswolds League –joined together over the winter to become the GCL.
The new league features a total of 18 divisions. The top five divisions sit on top of two regional streams with district divisions positioned below that
In Division Four, opener Stuart Houghton pounded 141 off 112 (22 fours, two sixes) to pave the way for Cheltenham 3rds to cruise past Stroud 2nds by 168 runs.
And skipper Ivor Griffiths led from the front with an unbeaten 103 for Churchdown who eased in by eight wickets, chasing a target of 217 at Cranham.
Adeko Collymore was another batter to make the most of favourable conditions, blasting an unbeaten 135 from 102 (14 fours, six sixes) as Bibury dominated Oakridge by 188 runs in Division Six B.
Captain Bernard Frost opened for Cirencester 3rds and compiled an unbeaten 131 in a home Division Nine D clash with Buscot Park 2nds who succumbed by 124 runs, Jack Jones following up with a haul of 4-12.
Opener Keith Smith retired unbeaten on 130 for Cinderford St John who trumped Westbury-on-Severn 3rds by 141 runs in Division Nine A, Kuwait Theivendran then shining with a return of 5-8 from seven.
And in Division Seven A, Jason Mosley’s 124 from 115 (12 fours, seven sixes) helped spur Highnam Court to a 195-run home success against Bourton Vale 3rds.
Nawaz Mucadam’s 120 off 92 (16 fours, three sixes) helped Winchcombe total 304-5 away to Birdlip & Brimpsfield who went down by 113 runs in this Division Six A clash.
And skipper Greg Buckle was in an even bigger hurry for Ashton Keynes, cracking 112 off just 58 (19 fours, four sixes) before retiring against Tetbury 3rds who lost by 172 runs.
James Norman produced one of the bowling spells of the day to finish with 6-14 from eight for Charlton who trumped Cirencester 4ths by 126 runs in Division Nine D.
And Pete Cash finished with the memorable figures of 5-3 from five as Chalford emerged 84-run home victors against Stinchcombe Stragglers 2nds in Division Nine E.
Corse & Staunton, who were relegated out of WEPL, began their bid to bounce straight back with a 174-run home success in Division One against Lydney, Matt Cox falling one short of his century and Ramnath Goswani claiming 4-49.
And James Burton’s burst of 4-11 helped promoted Cheltenham 2nds to an 81-run derby victory away to Cheltenham Civil Service.