Frocester dug deep for a two-wicket home win against Downend but still dropped a place into the bottom two of the WEPL’s ultra-competitive Premier One division.

Dan Lezar’s painstaking 56 off 134 balls along with 49 from Callum Loud saw Downend battle their way to 202-9, Richard Cave capturing 3-27 from six.

But Frocester banked the points with eight balls to spare thanks mainly to Louis Gegg whose unbeaten 75 from 124 deliveries proved crucial.

Bottom side Corsham lost out by four wickets at home to Bedminster and have it all to do if they are to avoid the drop with only three more rounds of games to go.

But this division is so tight that only the top two of Bath and Clevedon are safe from relegation, as just 17 points separate Bedminster in third place from second bottom Frocester.

Bath are clear favourites for the title after pounding Bristol by 242 runs, while Clevedon succumbed by 127 runs at home to Potterne.

Lechlade clinched a potentially crucial 85-run victory at Bridgwater who were dismissed for 116, Tom Young capturing 4-31, after Brad Dial had earlier dominated his side’s 201-8 with 95.

Premier Two Glos/Wilts leaders Goatacre were pushed hard at Rockhampton before completing a one-wicket victory despite Guy Brothwood’s 3-20 from ten.

Cheltenham remain second following a two-wicket defeat of Chippenham while Gloucester City Winget continued their revival with a three-wicket home success over Hatherley and Reddings, Jack Cowles shining with 4-27, and skipper Luke Davis was a busy man taking 4-34 and hitting an unbeaten 59 for Thornbury who emerged six-wicket victors at Burbage and Easton Royal.

Gloucestershire Division leaders Dumbleton overcame Bourton Vale by seven wickets, Dan Cranitch taking 4-40 before walloping an unbeaten 60 off only 26 balls (eight fours, three sixes).

Promotion rivals Cirencester defeated Corse and Staunton by 73 runs, Jono Jamieson-Black hitting 75, while Stroud bossed Frocester 2nds by nine wickets, Will Golding’s return of 4-22 in nine featuring a hat-trick.

Skipper Robbie Baker thumped 166 off 150 (24 fours, three sixes) for Cheltenham Civil Service who overpowered bottom side Apperley by 131 runs, and unbeaten half-centuries from Craig Scully and Ben Makepeace paved the way for Chipping Sodbury’s 37-run triumph at Tewkesbury.