A FIVE-wicket haul from Sam Didcote helped Aston Ingham 1sts to a 77-run win over West of England Premier Gloucestershire hosts Stroud on Saturday.

The visitors were 170 all out in 37.3 overs, Jack Carpenter scoring 34 and Dharzekanth Yoganadan 25.

Bottom side Stroud then reached 50-1 before Didcote and Anthony James with three wickets reduced them to 70-8, the former finishing with 5-40, with the hosts all out for 93 in 33.2 overs.

The 2nds agonisingly lost by two runs in a final ball thriller at home to Apperley 2nds though, finishing on 223-9 chasing 225-7.

Tim Dulson scored an unbeaten 79 off 50 balls, including six sixes, after a 50 from opener Jimmy Davies and 31 from Craig Baker, but couldn't quite get them over the line.

Aston 3rds were also downed by 48 runs at home to Tewkesbury 3rds chasing 184 all out after wicket braces for Oliver Kelsall, Jenson Arrowsmith, Jack Davis and Melissa Watson.

But only Sam Fitzmaurice with 51 really troubled the scoreboard as the hosts were all out for 136 in 36.1 overs.

The 4ths posted a decent 170-5 off 40 overs away to Huntley 2nds, William King firing 65 and Joel Fishpool and Billy Davies 37s.

But the hosts reached 171-4 with 3.5 overs to spare, James Hall scoring 59.

Newent 1sts lost by 50 runs away to Chipping Sodbury 2nds, limited to 156-9 off 40 overs chasing 206-9.

Alex Gooding with 94 provided the bulk of the hosts' score, as Jack Cowles took three wickets, and Josh Hayes and Freddie Fabian two apiece, with Nathaniel Gourlay scoring 32 not out and Cowles 24 in reply.

But the Lions won by 101 runs at home to Apperley 3rds, thanks largely to Nigel Brown with 66 and James Griffiths with 57, backed by Bradley Smith with 33 and Jack Griffiths 29.

Newent reached 246-9 before then dismissing the visitors for 145 in 37.2 overs, Charlie Lacy, Adam Curtis, Richard Watkins and Griffiths taking two wickets apiece.

In a low-scoring affair, the 3rds were pipped by two wickets at home to Cinderford 2nds however.

Newent were 123 all out in 36.3 overs, Gary Smeaton scoring 30, Jimmer Cunliffe 27 and Simon Gayther 23.

The hosts’ bowlers made a good battle of it, Patrick Thompson taking four wickets and Richard Leach three, but Cinderford got to 124-8 in the 28th over.

Elsewhere, Goodrich 1sts suffered a nail-biting eight run loss at home to Lechlade, which went down to the final over.

Matt Young took three wickets as the visitors reached 212-8 off their 40 overs.

Goodrich looked on for victory reaching 184-2 with 6.3 overs to play, but the dismissal of James O’Brien for 56 following 40 for fellow opener Sean Weller saw the run charge falter, finishing on 204-7.

Stuart Morgan fired 87 for the 2nds away to Dymock 2nds, but they were 198 all out chasing 219-5, the hosts’ Ed Senior having scored 84.