West of England Premier League Prem 2 Glos/Wilts

Rockhampton 282-5 beat Hatherley & Reddings CC 198 ao by 84 runs.

ROCKHAMPTON romped to victory in their final home game of the 2017 season after a batting masterclass from overseas start Tristan de Beer saw them post 282 to confirm Hatherley and Reddings relegation to the third tier.

Having won the toss, Spence chose to bat first and despite the early loss of Will Tyler it proved to be the correct decision as Matt Tyler batted superbly once again for a chanceless 69 with support from Brothwood (34) before a small collapse saw Rockhampton fall to 175-5 with eight overs remaining with de Beer and Spence now at the crease.

What followed can only be described as carnage as de Beer took the bowling attack apart in an unbeaten partnership of 107 in which Spence only contributed 16!

De Beer brought up his fifty off 42 balls and was to end up on 135 not out from just 71 balls as he smashed sixteen fours, six sixes, a passing car and several tiles on the pavilion roof!

In response, Hatherley were soon reduced to 19-3 as Willoughby (1-44) and Nichols (2-33) both struck with the new ball and the game looked won, however numbers four and five, Soma and Hage had other ideas and they began to build a partnership at a healthy rate to keep them right in the game.

Spence chopped and changed his bowlers but it was to no avail as the partnership passed 100 and with the score on 145-3 at drinks the match was very much in the balance.

But then came two huge moments in the space of two balls as firstly Hancox struck, dismissing Soma for 61, well caught by Nichols at point, and then the very next ball,the dangerous Hage was caught very sharply by Spence at mid-wicket off the bowling of Brothwood for 72 and the match was completely flipped on his head.

The lower order offered little resistance to the excellent spin bowling of Hancox (3-43) and Brothwood (2-48) and it was left to Spence (1-3) to grab the final wicket as Hatherley were all out for 198 in just the 42nd over.

Last up for fourth-placed Rockhampton is the long trip to third-placed Westbury and District on Saturday with a 12.30pm start.

Sunday will see the season ending fixture with Gloucester Gipsies at The Boundary Field with a 1pm start.