A SUPERB 178 from Australian opener Nic Merrin and a century from Anthony James fired Aston Ingham 1sts to one of their biggest wins of the season at home to bottom side Thornbury 2nds on Saturday.

Setting a huge target of 387-3 in 50 overs, the hosts then dismissed the Severnsiders for 100, with the 287-run victory leaving them fifth in the West of England Gloucestershire Premiership with two games left.

Having been dismissed for a duck seven days earlier, Merrin proved unplayable this time, blasting five sixes and 24 fours in a blistering 143-ball knock.

He formed a 131-run opening partnership with Oliver Henson who scored 51, before teaming up with James to add 196 runs for the second wicket.

When Merrin finally holed out after nearly three hours at the crease, James moved on to his own ton, scoring 109 off 84 balls, including two sixes and 14 fours, before falling to a catch (381-3) seven balls from the end of their 50 overs.

Thornbury had an Everest to climb, and the Aston attack soon made inroads, reducing the visitors to 49-5 before dismissing them in 28 overs, with Toby O'Neill taking 4-20, Sam Didcote 3-24, and solo strikes for James, Jack Carpenter and Angus Bartlett.

The 3rds also won by 113 runs at home to Alvington & Woolaston 1sts, scoring 238-5 off 40 overs before dismissing the Foresters for 125 in 32 overs.

Bryn Evans with 60 and Mark Mathias with 64 shared a 142-run opening stand, backed by Tom Parsons with 42 not out and Tim Smith 23.

And the bowlers then made hay in the sunshine, Philip Leighton taking 4-14, Simon King 2-18, Oliver Kelsall 2-32 and Mark Mathias, who also secured a run out, 1-5.

The 4ths saw out their 40 overs away to Apperley 3rds reaching 170-8, but fell 62 runs short of the 233 all out target.

Isaac Goulding, Will Kelsall, Emma Bowyer and Colin Leighton all took wicket braces, backed by former National Hunt jockey Tom Scudamore and Joel Fishpool with one apiece.

And Gwyn Evans made a round 50, supported by Fishpool with 28, Hritvik Gunreddy 22, Goulding 14 and Alex Cluley 12.

Elsewhere, openers Sam Griffiths with 53 not out and James O’Brien 65 fired Goodrich 1sts to a seven-wicket win at Minchinhampton after being set 174-7 off 40 overs.

O’Brien, Neil Price and Chris Tookey took wicket braces for the visitors, who then reached 177-3 in 29 overs thanks to Griffiths and skipper Jack Lewis with an unbeaten 19, with the win leaving them sixth in Gloucestershire 5.

The 2nds were squeezed out at home by 27 runs by Ruardean Hill 2nds though, all out for 154 in 35 overs chasing 181-9 off 40 overs.

Ralph Heaven-Richards and Sean Weller took three wickets each, but no one really got going with the bat, Matt Davies scoring 20, Weller and Aaron Thorley 19, Jimmy Moreton 14 and Wayne Husbands 13.

Fixtures this Saturday (August 23) include – Langford 1sts v Aston 1sts, Aston 2nds v Highnam Court 1sts, Aston 3rds v Ashleworth 1sts, Corse & Staunton 3rds v Aston 4ths, Gloucester 2nds v Goodrich 1sts.