CHIPPING Sodbury are through to the semi-finals of the Gloucestershire Cup thanks to a tremendous 98-run victory away to Bedminster in which their all-rounder Phil Lill shone.

The New Zealander’s afternoon got off to a good start with 67 at the top of the order, and it got even better as he later wrapped up the tie with a terrific return of 5-6 from only four overs.

Sodbury, in need of a confidence-boosting display, totalled 272-7 against their West of England Premier League Premier One opponents with players contributing down the order.

As well as Lill, Jake Reed made light of a finger injury suffered the previous day to contribute 49, while there was also a breezy 49 from skipper Jamie Rendell and 35 from Ben Makepeace.

Sodbury then began to make progress once in the field, Mason Poole immediately putting the heat on with three successive maidens with the new ball.

There was a wicket too for the seamer while Nick Wake struck twice.

And Dan Brown and Ben Waldron also claimed a wicket before Lill ran through the lower order to put Sodbury into the last four.

Sodbury will be hoping that this display can help the club’s efforts to avoid the drop from the West of England Premier League Gloucestershire division at the end of the season.

Sodbury remain second bottom but battled hard away to high-flying Frocester before succumbing by 32 runs, Jamie Rendell taking 3-5 and brother John top scoring on 70.

Sodbury seconds suffered a 78-run home reverse against their Hatherley and Reddings counterparts in the Gloucestershire County League, skipper Bryan Jater top scoring on 64.

It was a tough day too for the thirds in the Bristol and District League, Steve Febry’s side going down by 65 runs against Bristol Asians with teenagers Jake Kirkham and Ed Holden both hitting 31.

And youngsters Rob Higgs (49) and Ali Scott (55) both made their mark for the fourths in a high-scoring 35-run defeat away on the plastic at Bradley Stoke.

Sodbury’s Sunday XI, meanwhile, remain top of the Village League despite a 46-run home defeat against Corsham,.

A young side acquitted themselves strongly, Corsham reaching 237-7 as Isaac Havard (4-69) struck while Adam Febry then took the fight to the visitors with a pugnacious unbeaten 86.