THESE are heady days. Two good wins at Cheltenham prove what our team can do and the county championship table and that of the NatWest T20 blast provide the evidence.

The four-day game was a hard-fought one, fortunes ebbed and flowed. At times we had the edge with opening batsman Gareth Roderick batting well at the start of each innings but Essex had Matt Quinn.

Fast and hostile he exposed the frailty of our middle-order batting and on Friday evening all seemed lost. Our bowlers had other ideas and on Saturday, bowling as a unit, they put pressure on Essex. Our visitors did more than collapse, they dissolved.

As we bowled I expected more resistance from a promotion-chasing side. No-one dug in, no-one seemed to be prepared to graft for victory. Wickets fell at regular intervals and the welcome win was achieved with ease.

Our bowlers were first class. In the first innings, Josh Shaw, back from Yorkshire, took four good wickets. On super Saturday, Liam Norwell and hat-trick hero Craig Miles supported by David Payne did the damage.

Cornishman Norwell, built like Bodmin Moor, is all might and muscle. He didn’t let any batsman settle. Left arm bowler Payne was economical and effective. The star moment was provided by Purton's Miles. He had ended the Essex innings with two wickets from successive deliveries. When he came on to bowl in the Essex innings he was on a hat-trick.

Ravi Bopara, the experienced Essex batsman was on strike. He completely misjudged the line, did not play a stroke and saw his off stump go cartwheeling. It was a magical moment.

I think Craig would never have stopped running had his colleagues not held him back. It was a fine win and a fine game but when the chips were down Essex cracked. I expected more.

The T20 game on Sunday was a run-fest. A capacity crowd saw Gloucestershire move to 212-1. Hamish Marshall was out for 45 before a magnificent stand between captain Klinger (95 not out) and Ian Cockbain (69 not out).

Matt Taylor took early wickets and Benny Howell with three more soon reduced Essex to 54-5 and the match was over as a contest.

Loose bowling by Gloucestershire allowed the Essex tail-enders to bash some boundaries but the result was never in doubt.

We now head the table by a convincing margin and neighbours Somerset are bottom. Their expensive plans for this competition are in ruins. I must not gloat.

There was one disappointing incident in the T20 game. Essex batsman Ryan ten Doeschate was adjudged run out. He seemed to be in by yards and stood astonished. Rather than leave the field of play he stood in total disbelief. He then headed back to the wicket and with an impatient swish knocked off the replaced bails.

At the end of the game captain Bopara refused to talk to Sky TV who were reporting the game. More will be heard about this.

There is some news of next year’s festival. Firstly it will start on July 4, the earliest ever. Secondly, Gloucestershire are guaranteed at least one championship game, although they are still hoping for two. There will be two T20 games. Much lobbying is going on behind the scenes but the July 4 start is set in stone.

The ground is set up well at Cheltenham. Jack Russell has a stall there and he remains as slim and trim as ever. There is a splendid array of burgers, baps and paninis but little else. If I invite you to lunch do not build up your hopes, just have a drink instead.

The company and conversation is as good as ever with a perceptive view put forward that with good cricketing names such as May and Hammond batting high in the political order, England is in safe hands.

I had to enlighten the speaker that Prime Minister May and Chancellor of the Exchequer Hammond were not PBH or WR, (educated cricket lovers will recognise the initials).

Much remains to come at Cheltenham. After the A team international matches on Monday and Tuesday a four day championship match against Leicestershire starts on Wednesday.

Victory could take us to the top of the table. Tickets are selling very well for the 50-over cup tie on Sunday, July 24. Advance purchase is again advised.

Speaking to many of you who enjoy this column is a festival delight. Regrettably I am unable to advise anyone on Forest Green as the phoney war of pre-season friendlies is not for me.

I close with an apology from Mrs Light. She will not be at the College Chapel service at 10am on Sunday, July 24. She is currently engaged in a retirement tour of Cirencester churches. I made the mistake of telling her she would not be missed as there were adequate replacements in Canon Richard Atkins and college chaplain Rev Adam Dunning. This was not one of my better decisions.