Three wins in a row have catapulted Cranham to the top of Division Four of the Gloucestershire County Cricket League.

They have 95 points and are ahead of Frocester 3rds on net run rate, with both teams having won four of their opening six league games, but it’s certainly very tight at the top with the top five teams separated by just five points.

“We’d like to go up if we can,” said Judy Pockett, the club’s treasurer who has been on the committee for some 40 years.

She describes herself as “a long-standing stalwart” at the club and is clearly enjoying her cricket as much as ever.

“It’s come together a bit this season, everybody is enjoying it,” she said. “It’s been good so far.”

And Cranham, who have played in Division One of the County League in years gone by, have a good opportunity to cement their place at the top of the table on Saturday because they travel to bottom-of-the-table Oldlands, who have lost their opening six league games.

And they will certainly go there full of confidence after beating Churchown by 38 runs on Saturday, a match in which the Pockett family played a very big part.

Skipper and opening batsman James Pockett made 80 of their 248 for six from 40 overs, while James’ cousin and fellow opening bat Benn made 54 and James’ younger brother Alex made a quickfire 42 from 34 balls.

Alex and James then took five wickets between them as Churchdown were dismissed in the 39^th over. Jeremy Strickland also took three wickets and there was one apiece for Charlie Overs and Oliver Cooper.

Cranham, who run just the one side, host Frocester 3rds a week on Saturday and there’s certainly all to play for over the next couple of months as they chase one of the two promotion spots, with Dymock currently third on 93 points, Cricklade fourth on 90 and Corse and Staunton 2nds fifth, also on 90 points.

“It should be a very exciting season,” said Judy, whose husband Buzz is the club’s groundsman and a former club captain.

He, too, was an all-rounder and Judy, who is mum to 43-year-old James and Alex, 39, added: “I think he still holds the club record for the number of runs scored, although James is catching up.”