Cook keeps his cool and ensures Bishopston progress

LAWRENCE Cook held his nerve to put Bishopston into the quarterfinals of the Stuart Canvas Gloucestershire Cup with a last-over onewicket home victory against Bristol.

Cook struck the winning boundary with only four balls to spare as Bish successfully chased down Bristol’s total of 196-5 after several late wobbles. Opener Tommie Predgen (66) and Gary Booth (43) kept the home side in the chase before Cook’s heroics at the end. Earlier, opener Nic Halstead-Cleak top scored on 55 for Bristol. Bish will now be away to Thornbury or Bedminster who meet on June 20.

Rockhampton booked a home quarter against Gloucester or Hatherley & Reddings with a 78-run defeat of Stroud in a 20-over contest. Will Tyler thumped 96 off 59 (five fours, seven sixes) as the Rams piled up 162-4 ahead of Stroud struggling to 110-5 in reply.

Two first-round games are scheduled for Sunday with Golden Hill home to Cheltenham and Gloucester hosting Hatherley & Reddings.

Benny Ellis, meanwhile, was unbeaten on 106 off 76 (14 fours, three sixes) for Charlton Kings who cruised past Bristol West Indian Phoenix by 94 runs in the Stuart Canvas Gloucestershire Trophy.

Kings will now be away to Frenchay who crushed Bedminster by 216 runs, Dave Bromley top scoring on 80 before Chare Smith (3-7) and Alex Stell (3-13) made inroads. Oliver Hawkins finished with 3-15 for Golden Hill who eased past Chipping Sodbury by 88 runs. One tie is scheduled for Sunday with Tewkesbury welcoming Gloucester AIW.

ROCKHAMPTON will entertain Frocester on Sunday in the Gloucestershire final of the Voneus National Cup. The Rams, losing finalists at Lord’s in 2013, eased through with a nine-wicket crushing of Painswick, brothers Matt (95 not) and Will Tyler (65) leading the charge to a target of 196.

It was much tighter at Frocester who edged Cam by just three runs. Chris Whincup (88) and Ewan Gegg (55) lifted the home side to 272-7 from their 40 before underdogs Cam almost pulled off a shock win thanks to Ed Paddock whose 101 off 70 included a remarkable ten sixes, and 59 from Jake Dolbear.

MATT Brewer crunched 95 off just 63 balls (seven fours, three sixes) as Bedminster overcame Cheltenham by 58 runs in the ECB National Club Championship. Next up is a trip on Sunday to St Fagans for a place in the group final and the right to progress to the last 16.

HATHERLEY & Reddings saw off Frocester and then Bristol West Indian Phoenix to qualify for the second WEPL round in the ECB National Club Twenty20.

Nipuna Gamage top scored on 34 against Frocester before Haroon Shahzad bagged 4-23 to seal a 13-run success while Rob Dent’s 4-25 paved the way for a seven wicket defeat of the Bristol side.

Haatherley & Reddings now head to Gloucester on June 13 for a triangular that also includes Gloucester for the right to a place in the WEPL semi-finals.

Second round line-up – Group A: Clevedon (hosts), Bridgwater, Taunton St Andrews. Group B: Bedminster (hosts), Bristol, Bath. Group C: Gloucester (hosts), Hatherley & Reddings, Thornbury. Group D: Potterne (hosts), Trowbridge, Swindon.

CRAIG Strachan finished with 5-26 and George Houlden hit an unbeaten 56 as OB Westbury 2nds trumped Chew Magna by five wickets in the Tony Hitch Cup.

Latest results: Bitton 98-6 Frenchay 85-7, Bradley Stoke 160-8 Brislington 109, Chipping Sodbury 149-3 Bishopston 150-8, Whitchurch 80 Coalpit Heath 81-3, Pak Bristolians 169-4 Knowle 111-5, Lansdown 167-8 Lodway 112, Chew Magna 126 OB Westbury 127-5, Twyford House 110-9 Backwell Flax Bourton 112-0, Hambrook 131-9 Midsomer Norton 132-0.