Spinner Max Kelly took 6-28 in 8.4 overs but he insisted he was not the star turn as Hatherley and Reddings rushed to a 163-run win over Chipping Sodbury.

Kelly said that batsman Vihanga Kottawasinhage deserves all the plaudits after hitting 116 from 107 balls as the home side made 264-7 in their 50 overs.

The victory leaves Hatherley tucked in just behind leaders Painswick in Premier 2 Glos/Wilts of the West of England Premier League and Kelly said: “The match was won by Vihanga.

“I felt fortunate that we had plenty of runs on the board and I was able to pick up a few wickets.”

Chipping Sodbury were dismissed inside 31 overs and Hatherley have now won all three of their completed league games in 2026. Their opening game against Painswick was abandoned.

Kottawasinhage has been a big part of their early-season success and Kelly said: “He’s a very good player, we’re very lucky to have him.”

He came to the wicket with Hatherley 71-3 after winning the toss.

“We were in a bit of trouble,” continued Kelly. “His first 50 was controlled with a real good tempo.

“Then he picked up the rate and by the end he was walloping it all over the place.”

He was dismissed in the final over after hitting 11 fours and three sixes, but that didn’t prevent him from sharing the new ball with skipper Tom Hage at the start of Chipping Sodbury’s innings.

He claimed 1-21 and Kelly said: “He bowled seven overs straight through, he put a shift in.

“He bowls seam up, he’s a good bowler. He hits good areas and his control early on is brilliant. He’s also very good at the back end of an innings although we didn’t need him on Saturday.

“He’s strengthened both the batting and bowling, he’s made us a more compact team. He’s a good fielder too, he makes us a more complete side.”

Kottawasinhage, who is 33, is from Sri Lanka but has been living in Cheltenham for the past four years.

He has played T20 cricket for Hatherley in the past but this is his first season of playing league cricket.

And while the first team are flying high at the moment, it’s fair to say that the same applies to all the adult Saturday afternoon league teams at the club.

“We run five teams and we’ve not lost a game yet,” said Kelly. “There have been a couple of games abandoned but we’ve had 16 wins. The whole club is doing really well.”