REIGNING Voneus Village Cup champions Dumbleton are through to the national rounds of the competition after a 122-run win over Astwood Bank.
A 139-run partnership between Finn Brabham and Rupert Salmon guided the hosts to a convincing 279/5 from their 40 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Brabham provided 77 runs from 91 deliveries, whilst Salmon scored 66 off 61.
Astwood were always up against it and they fell well short in the end as they were bowled out for just 157 in 32 overs. Aaron Tomson (2-6) and Freddie Sharp (2-7) were the pick of the bowlers for Dumbleton in what turned out to be a convincing win.
Having won the regional stage of the competition, Dumbleton now move on to the National round of the Village Cup.
They won the competition last year after beating Calmore by 86 runs at Lord's, the home of England cricket, where the final is played every year. They are now on course to defending their title.
Prior to Sunday's contest, the first team were in action in the West of England Premier League on Saturday.
They went up against high-flying Gloucester in the Gloucestershire division and were well beaten in the end.
Having been put into bat, Dumbleton's top order were dismantled by Gloucester's Craig Collinson, who took four wickets in a devastating spell that left Dumbleton on the verge of collapse at 13-5.
But they were rescued from an embarrassing afternoon thanks to the bottom half of the order. Ollie Horne scored 57, whilst the likes of Scott Tremain (36), Isaac Elkins (34) and Daniel Hammond (32) provided invaluable runs to post 218/9.
Despite their terrific fightback, it was still not enough for victory as an unbeaten 76 from Sam Hewitt and 66 from Daniel Brabham got the hosts over the line having lost just four wickets.
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