National Village Knockout Gloucestershire Final

Rockhampton (247-5) beat Redmarley (167-9) by 80 runs

ROCKHAMPTON progressed to the last 32 in this national competition by beating Redmarley on Sunday.

Having elected to bat, Rockhampton set about mounting a significant score with the Tyler brothers in great form and finding the boundary with regularity in a brilliant opening stand of 110 before Will departed in the 21st over for an entertaining 57.

Matt remained patient at the other end and he soon brought up his half-century before being clean bowled on 56 from 88 balls, an innings that included eight fours.

In a bold move, captain Jack Spence sent in the relatively unproven Rob Belbin in at four and he didn't disappoint, carting Gareth Yardley for three consecutive sixes.

Belbin scored 30 from 20 balls in his cameo that included four sixes, departing in the 31st over with the score on 199-3.

Guy Brothwood and Mike Nichols put on 44 either side of a 45-minute rain break.

Brothwood brought up his 50 before sacrificing his wicket late on, leaving him with 62 from 55 balls. Nichols was dismissed for ten and both Spence and Rowan Cartlidge finished on one not out.

The first Redmarley wicket fell with Matt Tyler catching Adam Chalkley for five off the bowling of Chris Pearce (1-18) before a very heavy rain storm stopped play with the score on 38-1 from ten overs.

This storm threatened to end the day's play with a trip to Redmarley next Sunday looking likely or the possibility of Redmarley having to come out an bat for ten more overs, needing to match Rockhampton's run rate.

However, the rain stopped and the umpires were satisfied that both the pitch was fit and they hadn't lost enough time to reduce the overs.

Rockhampton returned like a different side and quickly went about ending any hopes Redmarley had of either chasing the target or keeping up with the run rate with rain in the air as the score soon became 57-5.

Some real resistance and bottle was shown by Rob Gummer (53*) but the game fizzled out as a contest. Wickets were shared around with Sam Nichols the star, ending with 4-45, Brothwood (1-34), James Hancox (2-28) and James Dryden (1-19) claiming the others.

Rockhampton host Hampshire winners Hambledon on Sunday, June 22.

Rockhampton (114-2) beat Tewkesbury (112) by eight wickets

A MATCH which until around midday looked highly unlikely of ever taking place, miraculously started on time.

Having won the toss, Jack Spence elected to field and a combination of bad batting and excellent new ball bowling from Chris Perry and Sam Nichols resulted in Rockhampton getting off to a flyer and having the visitors 10-3 with Nichols claiming all three on his way to figures of 3-19.

Perry bowled his ten straight through with the remarkable figures of 10-6-16-1.

James Hancox was introduced into the attack along with Dave McCabe and the two left-armers both claimed wickets to leave Tewkesbury on 43-6 at drinks. Tewkesbury's middle order set about trying to muster their way to a respectable score and managed to see off McCabe (9-2-17-1) and Hancox (10-0-33-1), moving onto 66-6 in the process.

The end of Hancox's spell only brought Guy Brothwood's off-spin into the attack and he struck immediately to remove the dangerous Ben Gwillam for 16. Another partnership began to form in the shape of John Allcoat (36) and Jack Brixey (13) before Brothwood removed the latter with the score now on 95-8. Brothwood claimed the final two wickets to end with impressive figures of 4-21.

Rockhampton never looked in trouble as the openers yet again put on 50 before Will Tyler departed for a breezy 31.

Brothwood was caught at mid-wicket for 15, leaving Matt Tyler (15*) the job of finisher, a role that he seems to be relishing this season, and Rowan Cartlidge to carry his bat for a faultless 36 from 88 balls with the hosts reaching their victory target in the 37th over and picking up 21 points in the process.

The unbeaten Rams now sit in second and this week host Biddestone at The Boundary Field, 1pm.