PAUL Turner finished with tremendous figures of 7-15 from his eight overs as Woodmancote rallied from being dismissed for just 120 to complete a 58-run win away to Shurdington in Division Two of the Greene King IPA Gloucestershire County League.
Victory appeared to be a distant hope on the opening day of the season as the visitors, who lost the toss, were soon reeling at 28-5 before Charlie Hawken (34), Jason Gore (22) and Turner (16) dragged their side into three figures against Chris White (4-14).
But batting proved to be even more of a struggle for Shurdington who could not deal with Turner, finding themselves in all kinds of bother at 10-3 and then 28-7 with White (25) the only batsman to settle.
It was a good day too for Great Rissington who romped in by seven wickets at Gloucester AIW Sports, George Garratt grabbing 4-17 while Sam Beeley’s return of 4-33 helped Hawkesbury Upton to a 103-run success at Hatherley & Reddings 2nds.
Dan Moore (4-24) shone in Chipping Campden’s five-wicket defeat of Redmarley, and Jack Weaving (4-37) helped set up Cinderford St John’s six-wicket success at Langford.
Sam Wheeler, meanwhile, produced the bowling display of the day with figures of 5-10 from eight for Kingsholm at home to Chipping Sodbury in Division One.
But it was Sodbury who took the spoils, spinner Dan Brown capturing 5-12 to ensure a low scoring 66-run victory after Jason Thomson had earlier provided a crucial 47.
Scott Meredith top scored on 85 in Poulton’s 49-run triumph at Aston Ingham while Benny Ellis (86 not) steered Charlton Kings to a five-wicket triumph at Cam.
Alex Gray’s 88 was in vain for Westbury-on-Severn who succumbed by four wickets at home to Lydney, and Tewkesbury eeked out a four-run victory away to Cheltenham 2nds.
Top individual score of the day came in Division Three where captain Chris Clayton cracked an unbeaten 108 for Fairford ahead of completing an 81-run victory away to Frocester 3rds.
Will Bowers (88) also hit form as the visitors piled up 249-2 and then restricted Frocester to a reply of 168-7.
Sam Carter produced an exceptional batting effort in Division Five for Witcombe against Stroud 2nds, coming in at seven to wallop 103 and pave the way for a 31-run triumph.
And Ali Smith was another centurion, batting all 40 overs to finish unbeaten on 105 (109 balls, 15 fours, one six) for Haresfield Gladiators who were 37-run victors at Whitminster in Division Six.
Henry Bonham was in the middle for all 40 overs to finish 95 not out for Painswick 2nds who trumped their Westbury-on-Severn counterparts by 72 runs. And Alex Tuck’s unbeaten 93 saw Oaksey to a six-wicket success at Chalford.