TIM Griffiths grabbed two crucial wickets in three balls to clinch Charlton Kings a tense five-run home victory over Gloucester in WEPL’s Gloucestershire division.
The visitors appeared to be edging towards the spoils at 284-8 as they closed in on a rain-calculated target of 292 with ten deliveries left.
But Griffiths then had John Barlow caught and, after conceding two runs off the next ball, bowled Thom Wilshaw to seal the spoils and move Kings up a place to fourth.
Opener Sam Hewitt (80) and Dan Brabham (72) had earlier given Gloucester’s reply a bright start while Tom Collinson kept his side in contention with a breezy 46 from 33 before falling victim to Gavin Williams, setting up the dramatic finish.
The day began with Andy Downes top scoring on exactly 100 off 120 (nine fours, five sixes) and fellow opener Dave Boon struck 48 in Kings’ challenge of 288 from 44.
Leaders Tewkesbury eased past Stroud by eight wickets to make it seven from seven, opener Tom Stevens unbeaten on 105 from 111 (12 fours, five sixes) after Sanath Jayawardhana’s fine burst of 5-25 from eight.
Promoted Langford made it two in a row, dispatching Rockhampton by five wickets after Matt Bicker’s superb 5-27 from nine, while Corse & Staunton edged Frocester 2nds by two wickets and Bourton Vale were six wicket victors at Chipping Sodbury.
In Premier One, Frocester slipped to the foot of the table after suffering a sixth successive setback, succumbing by 69 runs at home to Taunton St Andrews.
Bishopston went down by one wicket in a thriller at Potterne, despite the efforts of opener Tristan Jungbauer (68) and Dan Harris (4-35 from ten) while Bedminster slipped up by 36 runs at home to Lansdown.
Bristol’s home clash with Burbage & Easton Royal fell victim to the weather.
Thornbury, the Premier Two Glos/Wilts pacesetters, marched on with a seven wicket win in a 20-over contest at Hatherley & Reddings while Dumbleton moved up a place to second despite a one-wicket reverse at Goatacre where captain Myles Holland compiled an unbeaten 110 off 137 (four fours, ten sixes).
Cheltenham went down by a wicket at home to bottom side Avebury but Painswick trumped Corsham by six wickets, brothers Matt (4-47) and Jon Conolly (3-37) both shining.
Downend remain top of Premier Two Bristol/Somerset following an 89-run victory at Clevedon while third placed Golden Hill saw off Taunton Deane by nine wickets, Jacob Stevenson finishing with 4-15 from nine.
Knowle stretched their 100 per cent record to seven outings in Bristol & North Somerset, veteran opener Mark Coombes unbeaten on 103 off 117 (12 fours, one six) and Sam Bendall claiming 6-25 from eight.
At the other end of the table, there was a first win for Stapleton who eeked out a one-wicket victory at home to Bristol 2nds while Bristol West Indian Phoenix trumped Bradley Stoke by seven wickets.
Inbetween the showers, Brislington defeated in-form OB Westbury by five wickets but Twyford House suffered a five wicket home setback against Bath 2nds despite captain Rich Trotman’s unbeaten 98.