STROUD came up 22 runs short at home to leaders Chippenham, former Gloucestershire wicket-keeper Louis Gegg unbeaten on 143 off 85 (ten fours, ten sixes), writes Steve Hill.

Earlier, Chippenham posted 331 for the loss of six wickets - Gloucestershire all-rounder Graeme Van Buuren striking an undefeated 97.

Stroud made a good fist of their run chase but finished on 299 for the loss of seven wickets.

Andy Solomons (183) and skipper Uzi Qureshi (147) put on 304 for the first wicket at Frocester who pounded Burbage & Easton Royal by 176 runs in Premier Two Glos/Wilts.

Thornbury eased past Trowbridge by seven wickets, Dumbleton went down by five wickets at home to Corsham.

Gloucestershire Division leaders Hatherley & Reddings were six-wicket winners at Cheltenham Civil Service but second-placed Bourton Vale were edged out by four wickets at home to Frocester 2nds.

Tom Allcoat’s unbeaten 104 could not save Tewkesbury from a 45-run setback at Cirencester while opener Jack Whiting’s 99 put Gloucester on course for a six-wicket home success over Rockhampton.

Painswick skipper Jack Hobbis made light of a leg injury suffered in the warm-up to finish with figures of 0-14 from ten, setting up a four-wicket home victory against Corse & Staunton, George MacDuff also hitting an unbeaten 82.