CHIPPING Sodbury boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop with a battling home victory against Cheltenham Civil Service in the WEPL’s Gloucestershire division.

Rain washed out many games across the region and almost put paid to this clash only for the patience of the umpires and players to be rewarded with a contest which Sodbury went on to win.

The home side were struggling to make progress with the bat after losing the toss and were on the back foot when a strong downpour forced everyone off the field after just 17 overs.

After a lengthy delay, play resumed in this now 29 over per side match. And Sodbury responded by finishing up with a total of 126-9 which owed much to Jake Reed’s 56, 21 from fellow opener Phil Lill and a brutal late unbeaten 23 off only seven balls by Mason Poole who hammered three sixes.

Sodbury took that momentum into the field with Ben Waldron and Poole claiming early wickets before Lill (3-19 from six) and skipper Jamie Rendell (4-23) put the spin squeeze on, Civil Service fading to 86 all out.

Sodbury 2nds’ Gloucestershire County League clash at Tetbury fell victim to the weather without a ball being bowled, and it was the same story for Sodbury 3rds away to St George in Bristol & District League Division Seven.

But Sodbury 4ths were able to complete a shortened home date with Division 11 promotion favourites Saltford who rattled up 238-1 from 25 overs.

In reply, Sodbury were on their knees at 62-8 before Reece Packer came to the wicket and took the attack to the visitors with a career-best 91 before being caught and bowled in a 71-run reverse.