SKIPPER Harry Thomas thumped an unbeaten 143 off just 94 balls for newcomers Golden Hill who cruised to a four-wicket home win over Downend in WEPL Premier Two Bristol & Somerset.
The former Taunton Deane batter smashed 16 fours and six sixes, the last of which cliched the points with almost four overs in hand to give Golden Hill their first victory since being promoted.
Downend earlier piled up 296-7 after winning the toss, Pat Grieshaber (134) and Gloucestershire’s Ian Cockbain (77) dominating the innings with a second wicket stand of 145.
Golden Hill now prepare for a home local derby on Saturday against Bishopston who slipped to a six-wicket reverse at home to Bristol while Winterbourne lost by seven wickets at Weston-super-Mare.
In Premier One, Max Tryfonos’ return of 4-11 from 9.4 overs helped Bedminster pave the way for Bedminster’s tense two-wicket home victory against Bridgwater.
Newly promoted Thornbury slipped from 73-1 to 146 all out at Taunton Deane who eased in by six wickets while in the other games Chippenham trumped champions Clevedon, Bath were nine-wicket winners at Taunton St Andrews and Potterne overcame Lansdown by 86 runs.
Frocester made it two from two in Premier Two Glos/Wilts with a seven-wicket success away to promoted Corse & Staunton, Gloucestershire prospect Will Naish cracking 83 off 60 balls.
Pete Woodland (94 not) and Worcestershire’s Gareth Roderick (74) steered Cheltenham to an eight-wicket success at home to Corsham while Taylor Ireland (4-39) along with captain Louis Gegg (64 not) and Chris Job (51) shone in Stroud’s five-wicket triumph away to Hatherley & Reddings.
Dumbleton, the early pacesetters in the Gloucestershire division, romped past Rockhampton by eight wickets, Adam Stuart (3-28) striking before opener Dan Holland and Nipun Haggalla both hit half centuries in an unbroken partnership of 115.
Painswick also made it two from two thanks to a five-wicket home defeat of Gloucester, Keegan Jansen van Rensburg stroking 122 off 111 and sharing an opening stand of 169 with George MacDuff (70).
Jono Jamieson-Black’s unbeaten 88 saw Cirencester to a six-wicket win away to Bourton Vale for whom James Vlaeminck’s 120 proved to be in vain, and promoted Tewkesbury opened their account with a seven-wicket home defeat of Apperley, Josh Barnes hitting 104.
James Williams produced one of the bowling spells of the day to finish with 6-17 from ten for promoted Charlton Kings who bowled out Frocester 2nds for 157 and then wrapped up a four-wicket win, Gavin Williams top scoring on 53.
Captain Ollie Haynes completed his second successive century for Knowle who romped in by 173 runs in the local derby at Brislington in the Bristol & North Somerset division.
Batting at three, Haynes followed up 105 last weekend against Bristol 2nds with 164 off 144 (17 fours, seven sixes).
Newcomers Bradley Stoke clinched a 24-run triumph away to Bristol 2nds, opener Tom Laver (83) and Balaji Srinivas (4-43) shining, while Twyford House edged Keynsham, OB Westbury lost to Bath 2nds and Bedminster 2nds came up 20 runs short against Congresbury.
PAUL Muchall of Bath will captain a WEPL XI in a T20 against Gloucestershire at Clifton College on Friday (5pm). Admission is free.
WEPL: Paul Muchall, Sam Young, Jack Scrivens, George Axtell (all Bath), Basil Akram, Neil Clark, Kieran Bull (all Potterne), Marc Lezar (Thornbury), Ryan Kilmister (Dumbleton), Josh Smith (Lansdown), James Regan (Taunton St Andrews).