Golden Hill win through on a big-hitting T20 day at Downend
THE boundaries at Downend’s postage stamp sized-ground have rarely looked shorter after a barrage of big hitting in an entertaining WEPL T20 triangular qualifier.
A day of non-stop action got underway with Tristan Jungbauer thumping 78 off only 29 balls (four fours, nine sixes) as Bishopston chased down a target of 149 against the hosts in only 13 overs.
Lesego Senokwane then took centre stage with 91 from just 49 balls (13 fours, four sixes) for
Golden Hill who saw off Bishopston by 35 runs despite the late efforts of Will Thirkell, whose unbeaten 49 from 22 balls featured two fours and five sixes.
Golden Hill then booked a place in the next stage with a 51-run victory over Downend after piling up 253-7, which included 72 from Cyrus Shafi (47 balls, five fours, five sixes), Sam Brooks’ 61 off just 26 (five fours, five sixes) plus skipper Daz Ahmed’s powerful 46 off 21 (four fours, four sixes).
These two wins put Golden Hill into the next stage of a qualifying competition to produce a WEPL representative in the first national round of the ECB Club T20.
Also through are Bristol West Indian Phoenix, Twyford House, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Clevedon, Wembdon, Chippenham and Swindon.
Only one first-round qualifier remains to be completed, and it takes place on Sunday with Cheltenham hosting Hatherley & Reddings and Painswick (10 am on).
These 10 winners will be joined in the next stage by six seeded clubs - Bath, Bedminster, Bridgwater, Bristol, Frocester and Potterne.
The four groups of four in the next stage (straight knockout) will be announced shortly with the winners progressing to WEPL finals day.
» The Gloucestershire group semifinals of the Voneus Village Cup take place on Sunday with Apperley hosting Painswick and Marshfield at home to Frocester (1pm).
» Golden Hill will on Sunday (1pm) host cross-city rivals Bristol in the group semi-finals of the ECB National Club Championship. The winners will welcome Penzance or Helston for a place in the first national round.