OLDLANDS ended a run of five successive defeats and moved off the bottom of Division Five of the AMS Gloucestershire County League with a tremendous nine-wicket victory away to fellow strugglers Birdlip & Brimpsfield.
The home side reached 157 all out after losing the toss, Chris Barnes capturing 4-37 from eight, before Steve Heaven (56) and opener Nick Grove (42) made light work of the chase with an unbroken stand of 148, boosted by an eye-watering 48 wides.
Leaders Quedgeley & Hardwicke marched on with a 172-run home caning of Lydney 2nds, opener Ben Hopkins (88) top scoring before Neil Bennet (3-33) and Adam Hopkins (3-40) struck.
Ollie Henson’s 110 off 132 (15 fours, two sixes) put Aston Ingham on course for a 91-run triumph away in Division One to Apperley, James Wagstaff bagging 4-45.
And Dan Jarvis’ unbeaten 116 from 75 (14 fours, three sixes) spurred Westbury-on-Severn to a 24-run win away to Kingsholm.
Rockhampton made it six in a row but it could not have been tighter at home to Chipping Campden, last man Dave McCabe striking the winning boundary for a one-wicket success.
Jake Dolbear, meanwhile, top scored with 117 (24 fours) for Cam who reached 280-3 in Division Two at home to Great Rissington who came up only six runs short with Duan St Arnaud, Rex Chiles and captain George Garratt hitting half centuries.
Chris Williams’ 108 from 99 (14 fours, two sixes) helped Cheltenham 2nds reach 265-5 at home to Newent who eventually succumbed by 34 runs despite 101 from Brad Ryder.
Fairford moved off the foot of the table with a five-wicket home win over Rockhampton 2nds who now find themselves last, Sam Young shining with a return of 5-43.
Kevin Trouw (121) and Craig Stow (106 not), meanwhile, shared a third wicket stand of 219 for Redmarley who piled up 325-3 away to Shurdington ahead of closing out a 122-run victory.
Trouw faced 119 balls and hit 17 fours and two sixes while Stow faced just 81 deliveries and smoked 15 fours and two sixes.
Opener James Cook finished unbeaten on 123 in Division Four for Frocester 3rds who tied away to Chipping Sodbury 2nds whose leading scorers were Adam Febry (81) and Craig Scully (70).
Leaders Dumbleton 2nds cruised in by 133 runs at home to their Cheltenham Civil Service counterparts, Ted Batchelor taking centre stage with 129 from 88 (18 fours, two sixes).
And in Division Seven, captain Denis Booth was dismissed for exactly 100 off 98 (13 fours, five sixes) for Cam 2nds who dispatched Hatherly & Reddings 3rds by 71 run.
Unbeaten leaders King’s Stanley trumped Eldersfield by four wickets to surge 39 points clear, Gavin Dean claiming 4-25.
Image courtesy Mike Starling