WEPL Glos/Wilts Division

Rockhampton (262-7) best Westbury & District (194) by 68 runs

GUY Brothwood hit a century and took three wickets as Rockhampton beat Westbury and District to close the gap on league leaders Lechlade.

In a must-win game on a glorious afternoon, Rockhampton captain Jack Spence won the toss and elected to bat on an absolute belter of a wicket at Boundary Field.

However, the hosts soon found themselves on 31-2 as both openers were out caught behind, Will Tyler for four and Rob Belbin for a promising 21.

Brothwood and Matt Tyler then set about building yet another big partnership together as they have done so often this season.

Youngster Brothwood took on the lead role this time and hit one brutal six over cover on his way to a lovely fifty.

Matt Tyler hit eight boundaries before being caught behind for 45, leaving Rockhampton on 154-3 with 16 overs remaining.

Brothwood meanwhile moved into the seventies without any real alarm and was joined by the big-hitting Sam Phelps, who peppered the pavilion and car park on his way to an entertaining 28.

Will Cartlidge (17), Rowan Cartlidge (1) and Jack Spence (15) all played around the relentless Brothwood, who brought up his century with a trademark cover drive, finishing on 108 not out from 127 balls, including nine fours and two sixes to enable the Rams to post a very good score from their 50 overs.

In response, Westbury opener Simon Rose got off to a flyer, hitting beautifully straight down the ground, but around him was chaos as Will Cartlidge picked up a wicket before Sam Nichols struck three times in two overs, including the dangerous Rose for 42, to leave the visitors on 68-4.

Despite the pitch offering very little to the bowlers, Rockhampton managed to dismiss eight of the ten batsmen by bowling them, Nichols particularly impressive with 3-18 from his ten overs.

The ever reliable Will Cartlidge (3-32) was again superb and was ably supported by Chris Perry (1-22) and Brothwood (3-47), who took the final wicket to cap off his man of the match display.

Results elsewhere now mean that Rockhampton are right back in the title race, only 11 points behind Lechlade with five games remaining.

Rockhampton travel to Tewkesbury this Saturday hoping to keep pressure on the big-spending Wiltshire outfit.