CHARE Smith produced a superb display of pace bowling for Frenchay who cruised past Timsbury by seven wickets to close the gap on leaders Bristol West Indian Phoenix in the Senior Division of the Martin Berrill Sports Bristol & District League.
On a day when rain often had the last word, Frenchay took the weather out of the equation by dismissing the home side for just 60 in less than 23 overs, Smith grabbing 6-24 and captain Alex Stell weighing in with 3-11 from eight overs of spin.
Frenchay then needed less than 12 overs to seal the points and are now only three points behind holders Bristol West Indian Phoenix who were bowled out for 125 at home to Coalpit Heath. The South Gloucestershire side were 12-1 after eight when play had to be abandoned.
There were, though, three other results in this division. Stapleton leapfrogged Keynsham 2nds to go third thanks to a nine-wicket home win over their rivals.
Mani Baird (5-28) starred as the visitors were dismissed for 142 before Stapleton romped to a rain-reduced target, opener Ghulam Shabbir unbeaten on 47.
Hanham were 56-run winners away to Claverham in another game affected by the weather, Duncan Boffin (101) and James Davis (68) putting on 180 as Lloyd Richardson took 5-50. And Pak Bristolians were 52-run victors away to bottom side Winterbourne 2nds.
Clevedon 2nds are now just three points behind leaders Bristol Pakistanis in Division One thanks to a six-wicket home defeat of Hampset.
Bristol Pakistanis were going well at 253-6 after 36, at home to Whitchurch, thanks to Jawad Khan’s 116 off just 65 (13 fours, one six), when play had to be abandoned.
Bohemians are out of the bottom two in Division Two thanks to a nine-wicket home defeat of BWIP 2nds. And Bradley Stoke 2nds consolidated their place at the top of Division Three with an 82-run home victory against Bath 4ths.
Jake Palmer produced one of the bowling displays of the day, bagging 7-32 for Shirehampton 2nds who bowled out Chipping Sodbury 3rds for 110 in Division Eight before cruising in by eight wickets, Andy Geddes unbeaten on 55.
Another bowler in form was Zuber Pathan who took 5-12 to help set up a six-wicket victory for Bristol United Banks in Division Seven at Coalpit Heath 2nds.
In Division 14, Nirmal Radhakrishnan crashed 125 for Hambrook 3rds who overcame Patchway 2nds by 15 runs in yet another rain-hit clash.