Sleeman and Stone lay the foundations for Lydney’s emphatic win

» LYDNEY recovered from an unpromising 16-2 to total 251-4 at home to promoted Gloucester AIW Sports and pave the way for a commanding 214-run Division One victory on the opening day of the Greene King IPA Gloucestershire County League campaign.

Henry Sleeman finished unbeaten on 84 and shared an unbroken stand of 138 with Jordan Stone (67) after Jack Knox had earlier dug in for an important 57.

Lydney then found a testing line and length with the ball as AIW were rushed out for only 37 by Corey Notley-barnard (4-19) and Jack O’connell (3-16, both from nine).

Apperley cruised in by eight wickets at Thornbury II who were dismissed for 81, while Saurav Kamath (5-18) and Liam Brignull (3-16) set up Charlton Kings’ five-wicket home victory against Redmarley.

Matt Cayless steered Kingsholm to a tense two-wicket win at Chipping Sodbury with an unbeaten 43, opener Sam Warner contributing 55, while Tom Cummings (4-37) and Udit Talati (3-29, both from nine) shone for Cheltenham 2nds who edged Poulton by 43 runs.

Westbury-on-severn, bidding to bounce straight back to Division One, held their nerve for a six-run triumph at Cinderford St John.

Dan Hockaday (34) and opener Ian Dunn (33) were the only men to shine in Cheltenham’s challenge of 127 before Greg Artus (5-25 from nine) put the skids under Saints.

Karl Linney’s 5-25 from nine saw Division Two newcomers Aston Ingham to a 140-run success away to Hatherley & Reddings II while Chipping Campden, also promoted, won by 43 runs at Oldlands thanks to Dan Moore’s haul of 4-26.

In Division Three, Frampton-onsevern rushed past Frocester III by ten wickets. Dan Halsey (3-15 from nine) was the pick of the attack before Lee Driver-dickerson (55) led the Frampton charge.

Openers George Bailey (78) and Jer Westwood (77) starred in Hawkesbury Upton’s 47-run victory at Great Rissington while Langford succumbed by two wickets away to Rockhampton 2nds for whom Will Brisco captured 3-38, and Alex Evans and Ryan Walker bagged three wickets each for Tetbury who downed Chipping Sodbury 2nds by six wickets.

Birdlip & Brimpsfield, promoted to Division Four, kicked off with a 132-run home victory against Cheltenham Civil Service II, Kent Partridge, George Smith and George James pocketing three wickets apiece.

Paul Englebrecht’s 5-10 could not stop Dymock securing a low-scoring one-wicket win at home to Dumbleton II while captain Jack Cowles plundered 103 off 104 (13 fours and a six) for Newent, who romped in by 178 runs at home to Fairford.

In Division Five there were wins for newcomers Charlton Kings II and Cirencester II, over King’s Stanley and Haresfield Gladiators, respectively.