It's a ton-derful day for batsmen (From Evesham Journal)

It's a ton-derful day for batsmen

10:30am Sunday 19th August 2012 in Sport

EBRINGTON’S Nathaniel Gregory and James Hicks put Stanway to the sword in their Cotswold Hills Cricket League Division Three encounter.

Opener Gregory smashed 139 from 89 balls, including 21 boundaries, and the prolific batsman now has 1,139 runs to his name this season.

Hicks struck his maiden century, finishing with 100 not out from 84 balls, as the pair scored eight sixes between them.

Matt Spencer added 52 not out from 37 balls with Ebrington amassing a mammoth 342-2 in 42 overs. In reply, Stanway could only post 156 all out as number 11 batsman Ed Fowler top-scored with 34.

Paul Parmenter (4-21) and Gregory (2-18) caused damage with the ball as Ebrington ran out winners by 186 runs.

Ebrington are flying high at the top of the table and on course for promotion, while mid-table Stanway’s hopes of playing in Division Two next season have taken a huge blow.

Bottom-of-the-table Blockley recorded a six-wicket win over Bretforton seconds after dismissing their visitors for 155.

Meanwhile, Ashton-under- Hill sit just above the relegation zone in Division One after being thrashed by Moreton-in-Marsh by 10 wickets.

Despite the efforts of William Archer (58) and Richard Cooper (48), Ashton crumbled to 147 all out in 42.4 overs as Marco Bandeira claimed 6-16 in 8.4 overs.

In reply, the hosts raced to their target without the loss of a wicket as openers David Henshaw (42no) and J Hurrell (98no) knocked them off in just 22.1 overs.

Fourth-placed Chipping Campden beat Winchcombe by five wickets in Division Two after bowling out their visitors for 101.

• Cotswold District Association League Division One leaders Adlestrop beat visitors Windrush Valley by eight wickets after restricting them to 159-8 from 40 overs.

Adlestrop replied with 164-2 as opener Jamie Parker scored 37 before Sam Keen (77no) and Jack Bisson (31no) carried them home in 32.2 overs. Nearest challengers Stow-on-the-Wold thrashed Oaksey by eight wickets.

Dan Smith claimed 3-20 and Ashley Andrews 2-25 before the latter carried his bat with 60no in Stow’s winning 111-2 in 23 overs.