CHIPPING Sodbury made it three in a row with a tense one-wicket victory away to Stroud in the West of England Premier League’s Gloucestershire division.

And there was a piece of history at the club in the fourth team when a batsman struck a half-century.

Stroud were bowled out for 153 with the entire Sodbury bowling attack making an impact. Seamers Ben Waldron (2-29 from ten), Jon Toghill (1-35 from ten) and Rob Mozelewski (2-27 from eight) led the way with the spin attack of Phil Lill (0-23 from ten), skipper Jamie Rendell (2-24 from seven) and Nick Wake (1-15 from four) also contributing.

In reply, Sodbury recovered from losing a couple of early wickets to take control of proceedings thanks to Rendell (39) and Lill (22) only to suffer a mini collapse before completing the job and keeping alive hopes of a top four finish with six rounds of games to go.

Sodbury 2nds, meanwhile, over powered Gloucester City Winget by 125 runs to stay second in Division Three of the Gloucestershire County League.

Tom Makepeace (71) and Lee Walters (57) led the way in a challenging total of 279, and Winget then came up short at 154 all out.

Sodbury 3rds were disappointed to miss out away to Bedminster 3rds in Division Seven of the Bristol & District League after piling up a total of 253-6.

Sam Vile (61 not) and skipper Mike Pearson (59) top scored with Chris Young contributing 27. But Bedminster chased down the runs with almost four overs to spare, Mark Graham (4-53) and Callum Davidge (2-61) the pick of the attack.

History was made at The Ridings as Sodbury 4ths entertained Bradley Stoke 3rds in Division 11.

Opener Jim Davis top scored on 60 for Sodbury whose total also included a superb unbeaten 51 from Naomi Forecast – the first ever half century by a female player for the club!

Skipper Damian Frodsham hit 49 before Jamie Pearson (4-42), Aaron Morgan (2-37) and Tom Brown (2-32) struck with the ball in an 18-run win There was also a crucial catch by Naomi who is in her first season at Sodbury and who also plays for Bristol Phoenix and Gloucestershire Women's first XI.

Sodbury 5ths, though, had a day to forget away to YMCA 5ths, being bowled out for 77 and succumbing to a nine-wicket reverse.