STROUD moved closer to safety with a tremendous one-wicket success away to local rivals Frocester.

Callum Gegg’s 46 lifted Frocester to 185 all out, James Job and Islamnabi Ahmadzai both taking three wickets.

Matt Smith (56) and Louis Gegg (49) then top scored for Stroud who held their nerve in a tense finish to get over the line with a ball to spare.

Earlier, Stroud skipper Louis Gegg won the toss and invited Frocester to bat first. Frocester opened with the formidable partnership of Andy Solomons and captain Uzi Qureshi and both started well.

Mike Alley took the first wicket of Solomons, well caught by Matt Smith and from then the Stroud bowlers and fielders were on top form to restrict Frocester to 98 for 6. This brought the inform Callum Gegg and the vastly experienced Nick Trainor to the crease who began to rebuild with Gegg in particular playing well. He made 46 when he was well caught by Alley off the bowling of Tom Horrell and Frocester were looking for a score in excess of 200. However some good bowling from Will Golding, James Job and Mike Alley ensured the hosts were all out for 185. All bowlers contributed with Nabi the pick with 3 for 28 from his 10 overs.

Minus overseas recruit Keegan Petersen and new father Chris Job, the Stroud batsman headed to the crease to face Gloucestershire star Chris Liddle, overseas star Andy Solomons and Jack Worgan who all bowled with pace and accuracy in the first 20 overs. The evergreen Paul Frape showed great determination in withstanding the barrage of fast bowling only to fall to Liddle for 15.

Other batsman came and went to leave Stroud 48 for 5 and seemingly on the end of another defeat. However with captain Gegg at the crease there was always hope and when Matt Smith joined him the pair played absolutely magnificently to share a stand of over 100 to really put the game in the balance.

With Gegg starting to open his shoulders and Smith continuing to cut, pull and drive to great effect, the contingent of Liddle and Solomons grew frustrated until Gegg skied a Nick Trainor full toss to mid off to fall on 49.

Mike Alley and Smith continuing chipping away until both fell with only 15 needed. Smith for an absolutely fantastic 56 and Alley for 8 leaving James Job and Gavin Dean to see if they could eek out the runs.

Job played well only to fall for 6 with only 3 needed from the final over. Worgan was the bowler with Dean on strike, but he gave nothing away meaning there were 2 needed from the final ball for a miraculous Stroud victory. The delivery slipped down the leg side and away to the boundary to give Stroud a massive win in their quest to stay up and cue huge celebrations from the away support.