THERE was no keeping Keegan Jansen Van Rensburg out of the action as Painswick made a flying start to the new campaign, cruising past Royal Wootton Bassett by nine wickets in WEPL Premier Two Glos/Wilts.
The South African began his day by holding on to three catches before claiming 2-35 from ten overs as RWB were restricted to 230-7 after losing the toss at home.
And Jansen Van Rensburg then took centre stage with the bat, hammering an unbeaten 111 off 133 (seven fours, five sixes) and sharing an unbroken stand of 215 for the second wicket with Philippe le Roux (104) in a commanding victory achieved with more than 10 overs to spare.
It was tighter at Cheltenham who held off Goatacre by five runs, Worcestershire’s Gareth Roderick cracking 107 and opener Mike Kelly 77 in a second wicket stand of 165.
Hatherley & Reddings edged Chippenham by 16 runs in a match reduced to 20 overs.
Opener George Driver-Dickerson (43) top scored in a challenge of 129-5 before the visitors were pegged back by Joel Price (3-6), Joe Tutty (2-12) and Ben McShane (2-18).
And Gloucestershire’s Chris Dent claimed 4-35 from ten and hit 46 as Thornbury saw off promoted Dumbleton by eight wickets, Josh Riggs also crashing a typically belligerent 87 from 66 (six fours, seven sixes) as a target of 157 was reached in less than 24 overs
In Premier One, Bristol held off Potterne by 14 runs in a 27-over contest, Miles Kantolinna capturing 5-16 from six overs of left-arm spin.
Frocester overcame Bedminster by seven wickets, Ryan Kilmister taking 4-25 from ten and Bikram Kumar Das unbeaten on 68 while promoted Bishopston suffered a 49-run home reverse against a Bridgwater side for whom former West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite hammered 28 from 16 balls.
Downend were eight-wicket winners at Midsomer Norton in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset while last season’s runners-up Golden Hill were edged by 33 runs at home to Clevedon despite Gloucestershire’s Ed Middleton hitting 61 and taking 2-33 from ten.
John Stilwell marked his league debut for Gloucester with a haul of 4-27 from ten, helping pave the way for a seven-wicket success over Rockhampton in the Gloucestershire division.
Tewkesbury saw off promoted Langford by six wickets, Will Lucas (4-8 from ten) and Matt Stevens (3-5) shining with the ball, and Bourton Vale trumped Frocester 2nds by six wickets, Max Shepherd (3-31) and opener Ollie Whiteley (64) playing starring roles.
Bristol West Indian Phoenix and Bristol 2nds tied a thriller in Bristol & North Somerset, both sides finishing locked on 110 runs in a 32-over contest.
Promoted Bradley Stoke edged Brislington by 51 runs, Dan Qureshi bagging 3-16, while Knowle eased past Bath 2nds by five wickets, Jack Weston blasting 46.
Nathan Browne made a debut to remember for Twyford House, the 16-year-old finishing with 4-32 from ten to help pave the way for a seven-wicket home success against promoted Stapleton, skipper Rich Trotman following up with 60 at the top of the order.