Kingsholm leapfrogged Westbury-on-Severn with a five-wicket home victory over their promotion rivals to go top of Division One in the Greene King IPA Gloucestershire County League.

Westbury, who lost the toss, battled to 126-9 in a rain-affected contest, Greg Artus (26) top scoring as Sam Wheeler (3-22 from seven) and Ben Cambridge (2-9 from eight) found conditions to their liking.

Opener James Boon (29) and skipper Matt Cayless (34) then saw Kingsholm over the line to see their side move six points clear at the top with four more rounds of games to go.

Two sides are due to be promoted, and those prized places in WEPL remain wide open with just 21 points separating the top four teams.

Cheltenham 2nds are up to third, replacing Lydney, following a 108-run home victory over their rivals in a 37-overs per side contest.

Fred Davies top scored on 76 in Cheltenham’s 191-7, Peter Glynn capturing 4-43, before Lydney folded to just 83 all out, opener Dave Kear (30) the only man to reach double figures against Will Johnson-Coleman (4-19 from six) and Jake Cropper (3-17 from six).

At the other end of the table, Cranham boosted their hopes of finishing out of the bottom three with a six-wicket defeat of win-less Gloucester AIW Sports, Sam Jones (4-24), Chris Smith (3-24) and James Pockett (2-15, all from nine) the stars.

Jonny Hardman’s fine burst of 6-31 saw Painswick dismissed for 105 only for Charlton Kings to then be rumbled for 51 by Reece Morris (4-12) and James Harber (4-15).

Division Two pacemakers Cam continued to close in on promotion with a four-wicket triumph away to Gloucester City Winget 2nds, Alex Ballard finishing with 4-42 and hitting 37, while second-placed Poulton thumped Chipping Sodbury 2nds by 71 runs, opener Jody Lawrence top scoring on 65.

Only one other game was played in this division, Cinderford St John trumping Oldlands by 44 runs.

Ullenwood Bharat, the Division Three leaders, edged nearest rivals Shurdington by three wickets to strengthen their title hopes.

Mahesh Shetty (4-35) and Ryan Douglas (3-23, both from nine) combined to restrict Shurdington to 193-9, Chris White (65) and opener Keith Knight (54) the only men to reach double figures.

Ullenwood then made steady progress with contributions throughout the order to complete the win with almost two overs to spare.

Woodpeckers, in third, missed a golden chance to move up a place following a 39-run setback at Frampton-on-Severn for whom Craig Barnfield captured 3-22 from nine.

Bottom side Great Rissington showed they are not going to go down without a fight following a four-wicket home win against Frocester 3rds, Glen Crompton the star with an unbeaten 104.

Slaughters United were 62-run victors at Lydney 2nds in the only other game to reach a conclusion in this division.

Hawkesbury Upton romped in by ten wickets at home to lowly Gloucester AIW Sports 2nds to remain favourites for the Division Four championship.

There were three wickets each for Sam Beeley and Gavin Huxford as Sports succumbed to 132 all out ahead of George Bailey (75) and skipper Jeremy Wetwood (47) needing only 26 overs to complete the win.

Witcombe, in second, came unstuck by seven wickets at Fairford for whom Seb Jordan grabbed 4-16 from eight and Will Bowers was unbeaten on 57.

Third-placed Cheltenham Civil Service 2nds closed the gap with a 172-run home hammering of Lechlade 2nds, Jack Harrod powering to 104 off 72 balls (14 fours and a six).

Langford are now 57 points clear at the top of Division Five following a 111-run home pounding of Panswick 2nds who were rushed out for 52, achieved as nearest rivals Minchinhampton suffered a surprise 38-run setback away to bottom side St Stephens.

Saints struggled to total 134, skipper Aaron Batchelor unbeaten on 32. But it was more than enough as Batchelor (3-18), Adam Slade (3-23), Joe Moore (2-11) and Harry Styman (2-11) combined in style.

It was a good day too for lowly Apperley 2nds who recorded only their fourth win, dismissing Sheepscombe for 85 to set-up a seven-wicket triumph.

Tom Brown took 5-22 and Alex Oliver 4-46 as Haresfield Gladiators were pegged back to 160-9 by Tewkesbury 2nds.

But Sunny Kalcutt then produced a fine spell of 3-4 from seven overs, being well supported by Ben Smith (3-42) and Stuart Oakes (2-24), to complete a 36-run success.