Cricket: West of England Premier and County League round-ups; Village Cup latest
STEVE HILL with a round-up of all the league and cup cricket action
Ewan Gegg produced a memorable all-round performance for Stroud, finishing unbeaten on 166 and then bagging three crucial wickets, in a tense 16-run victory at Charlton Kings in WEPL’s Gloucestershire division.
The opener dominated his side’s challenge of 295-6, facing 163 balls and hitting 13 fours and nine sixes in a club record knock, while there was also a quick-fire 60 from brother Callum.
Kings, who won the toss, were on the back foot in reply at 61-3 before Benny Ellis took charge with a fine innings only to be denied a well deserved century when he was held by Reuben Shehean off Ewan Gegg for 99.
Angus Gegg also weighed in with three wickets while there were two victims for Lewis Culver as Kings finished just short.
It was even tighter at Chipping Sodbury where Corse & Staunton sealed a two-wicket win with three balls to spare, Matt Cox top scoring on 69.
Promoted Langford came up 13 runs short at home to Frocester II, opener James Cook thumping an unbeaten 130 from 149 (17 fours, four sixes) for the visitors. Will Parsons had earlier top scored on 106 and shared a second wicket stand of 192 with Liam Court (87) for the Oxfordshire outfit.
Ben Spyvee returned 5-52 for Frocester and Shafiq Maroofkhel 4-33.
Gloucester were 54-run victors at Bourton Vale, Craig Collinson capturing 4-27 from 10 overs, and Tewkesbury romped in by 123 runs at Rockhampton, Josh Barnes top scoring with 100 from 78 (nine fours, five sixes).
Bristol, meanwhile, held their nerve for a three-run success at Frocester in Premier One, captain Louie Shaw contributing a crucial 79 and spinner Rishi Panchal bagging 4-12 from ten.
Promoted Bishopston saw off Taunton St Andrews by 60 runs, opener Tristan Jungbauer’s 111 from 109 (13 fours, four sixes) paving the way for the Bristol club’s first win while Bedminster succumbed by 55 runs at Potterne.
Painswick made it two wins from two in Premier Two Glos/Wilts with a two-wicket success at home to promoted Avebury, Jon Conolly and Jack Hobbis taking three wickets apiece while Reece Morris’ unbeaten 37 was equally vital.
New Zealander Robbie O’Donnell plundered 146 off 126 (20 fours, five sixes) for Thornbury who overwhelmed Corsham by 123 runs, and promoted Dumbleton opened their account with a six-wicket home win against Royal Wootton Bassett, Ross Martin claiming 5-43.
Cheltenham slipped up by eight wickets at Chippenham, and Goatacre beat Hatherley & Reddings by 129 runs.
AKSHAY Sreenivasan’s burst of 5-16 from eight overs helped Frampton-on-Severn see off Fairford by 83 runs and make it two from two in Division Three of the AMS Gloucestershire County League.
Frampton, who won the toss on the road, battled their way to 154-9, Fraser Wilson’s unbeaten 57 proving crucial as Jon Welch claimed 3-8 from eight.
But Fairford also struggled with the bat as Sreenivasan turned the screw, Dan Huxstep weighing in with 2-8 from five.
Three other sides in this division are also unbeaten at this early stage, including promoted Dumbleton II who crushed Dymock by 257 runs, Matt Nicholson top scoring on 94 from 50 (seven fours, eight sixes) and Tom Green taking 6-10 from six.
Promoted Thornbury II, meanwhile, coasted to a 173-run triumph in Division One over Westbury-on-Severn with Ruben Pieterse (101 from 53) and opener Ed Webb (98 from 18) dominating proceedings.
Early pacesetters are Hawkesbury Upton, who made it two from two with a low scoring 22-run triumph at Chipping Campden, Matt Beamish (4-21) and Ben Waldron (3-33) coming up trumps.
In Division Four, Joe Winder’s spell of 5-46 from eight helped pave the way for Bourton Vale II to edge Ashleworth Woodpeckers by five wickets.
There was another win for leaders Cranham who saw off Frocester III by seven wickets, Alex Pockett unbeaten on 61.
Benet Sathyadass’ spell of 5-28 put Kingsholm II on course for a six-wicket success at Sheepscombe in Division Five while there was a tie between Cirencester II and Parkend.
Ciren, who lost the toss, reached 156-8, opener Brett Logan hitting 50 before Parkend were then restricted to a reply of 156-6, Charlie Lamble coming on to bowl the last over and concede only five runs - including a dot ball final delivery.
In Division Six, Ankit Nautiyal top scored on 90 for Birdlip & Brimpsfield who dominated Apperley II by 125 runs, Trevor Holder following up with a return of 4-7 from five.
And in Division Seven, opener Mark Robbins’ 94 proved to be in vain for Oakridge who came up 10 runs short at home to Painswick II for whom Magnus Hall had earlier walloped an unbeaten 50 from 35.
Simon Baverstock’s haul of 4-16 from five, meanwhile, put Tetbury II on track for an eight-wicket success at home to Ruardean Hill, Ciaran Taylor then contributing an unbeaten 57 at the top of the order.
Painswick eased past Winterbourne by 74 runs to reach the Gloucestershire group semi-finals in the Voneus Village Cup, Keegan Jansen Van Rensburg once again taking centre stage.
The prolific South African walloped an unbeaten 164 from 116 (14 fours, nine sixes) while there was also an unbeaten 90 off 67 from Jon Conolly as their side raced to 333-4 after winning the toss.
Winterbourne made a brave attempt to reach an imposing target, skipper Ben Parker leading from the front with 104 from 88 (17 fours) but Painswick were always in control, Dan Wilson finishing with 3-49.
Painswick’s reward is a trip on May 26 to Apperley, who received a walkover against Rockhampton.
The second semi will see Marshfield host Frocester after both also received walkovers, against Kingsholm and Almondsbury respectively.
Dumbleton, the 2022 champions, had free passage to the Worcestershire group last four following the withdrawal of Feckenham, and face a trip to Bretforton.
In Herefordshire & Powys, Aston Ingham completed an eight-wicket win away to Burghill, Tillington and Weobley, James Wagstaff capturing 5-14 from seven to book a home last four clash against Colwall.
THERE’S a new look to WEPL’s T20 competition which is due to get underway on Sunday with 10 preliminary round qualifiers scheduled across the region.
A total of 35 clubs will this year be chasing qualification to represent the league in the first national round of the ECB National Club T20.
The top six finishers in last season’s Premier One - Bath, Potterne, Bristol, Bridgwater, Frocester and Bedminster - have free passage to the second stage where they will be joined by the 10 preliminary round winners.