Win wait goes on Collapse sends Cheltenham to another defeat
CHELTENHAM’S search for a West of England Premier One victory goes on as a four-wicket burst from Matt Carpenter saw Clevedon register a 41-run win.
After electing to bat first Cheltenham recovered well to restrict the hosts to 236-9 after the home side looked well placed at 150-3.
Sam Didcote (3-34) remained in the wickets as he accounted for Connor Crane (48) and Harry Ellison (40) when the pair looked well set but some lower order hitting saw the hosts post a challenging score.
The reply got off to a good start for Cheltenham, putting on 47 for the first wicket however three quick wickets fell for 26 runs which saw a change in momentum as the visitors found themselves 73-4.
Josh Breed (57) took his tally for the season past 250 runs as he posted a second league fifty and along with Nathan Hooker (38) rebuild the innings
to take the score to 170.
But when Hooker was dismissed, this sparked a collapse as the last four wickets fell for 25 runs to consign Cheltenham to a fourth straight league defeat.
Life in Premier Two is not faring much better for Stroud who were undone by a brilliant 185 not out from Thornbury’s Dan Davies.
His knock came from 156 balls as Thornbury posted 294-7.
Brother Luke Davies (3-40) and opening partner Tom Bradley (3-38) knocked the stuffing out of the Stroud innings as wicket-keeper Harry Swindles (63*) was left stranded.
Dumbleton were beaten by WEPL Two leaders Burbage and Eastern Royals by 50 runs.
The home side, Burbage were saved by the lower order having slipped to 109-6 however brothers Adam (39) and James (33) Lavis pushed the score past 200 as they set Dumbleton 213 for the win.
Opening batsman Rupert Salmon (61) took the score past 100 but when he was dismissed, as were Dumbleton’s chances as Adam Lavis (3-24) and John Riekert (3-32) picked up the last 4 wickets to fall as the visitors fell to 162 all out.
Elsewhere in Premier Two, Frocester made it back to back wins as they overcame Trowbridge by 90 runs, Goatacre lost to Corsham by 24 and Biddestone beat Chippenham by 21.
Tom Hage’s second hundred in as many weeks kept Hatherley and Reddings top and unbeaten in the WEPL Gloucestershire division.
Hage (105) starred with the bat as he and Nipuna Gamage (83) put on 149 for the fourth wicket as the home side amassed 262-8 at North Park.
The Gloucester batting line up were then undone by Max Kelly (5-32) as they were bowled out for 109 in the 31 st over.
Cheltenham Civil Service picked up a first win of the season as they dismantled Cirencester by eight wickets.
There were three wickets apiece for John Garrett, Michael Teague and Richard Robinson as the visitors were bowled out for 141.
Service made light work of the chase as Adrian Mayes (60) and Chris Baker (33*) registered a first league victory for Service.
Painswick made it three wins from three as they beat Tewkesbury by one wicket in a close encounter at Gander Lane to move to second place.
Tewkesbury were thankful to Harry Low (70) who was the mainstay of the hosts 185 all out, David Boon (3-29) the pick.
The hosts looked as though they had pulled a victory out of nowhere when they sent Reece Morris (92) on his way however captain Jack Hobbis (22*) held his nerve to seal the victory and leave Tewkesbury bottom of the table.
Corse & Staunton backed up last week’s win with a tight five-run victory over Bourton Vale.
A quick-fire fifty from Brad Fulton (50) along with a more cautious 40 from Matt Brown helped propel the hosts to 224 having been 133-6.
Bourton somehow ended up on the losing side despite being very well set at 202-4, the visiting side found guilty of game management as Mitchell Winterirving (67*) could not see his side home.
Frocester II continued the day’s trend picking up a first league win over Rockhampton in what was another close affair at Pounds Lane.
James Cook (87) and Chad Trainor (44*) where the main contributors in Frocester II 236-5.
Rockhampton built regular partnerships but lost wickets at crucial times as the hosts held their nerve to seal victory and climb off the bottom of the table.