Painswick are on the march again in the Voneus Village Cup.

Last season they reached the last eight – their best so far in the competition – and they’re in the last 16 this time around and hoping to go much farther.

The final is at Lord’s on Sunday 21^st September and Painswick took another step towards booking a place at the home of English cricket with a nine-run win over Horspath in Oxfordshire on Sunday.

Opening batsman Alastair Connolly set up their victory with an unbeaten 94 as Painswick made 226-6 from their 40 overs.

He hit 11 fours in his 108-ball innings and chairman Andy Barnard, who described the innings as “selfless”, said: “He put the team first at the end of the innings by taking runs when many others would have held the strike looking for personal milestones.”

Connolly shared a third-wicket partnership of 151 with Luke Woolway who made 62 with Barnard saying the wicketkeeper/batsman showed his “usual grit and resilience”.

Their final score was competitive and Barnard continued: “Painswick’s ground fielding was outstanding and supported the bowling attack, with the opening pair of Jono Connolly and Reece Morris taking three and two wickets respectively.

“Painswick's spinners strangled the Horspath batting in the middle overs, with a miserly spell from skipper Jack Hobbis ensuring we kept our noses in front, much to the joy of the travelling support.”

Painswick now host Goatacre on Sunday 6^th July (1pm) for a place in the quarter-finals.

Goatacre will be on a revenge mission because Painswick beat them by six wickets at this stage of the competition last year, although the Wiltshire club beat Painswick by 13 runs in Premier 2 Glos/Wilits in the West of England Premier League earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Dumbleton, who play in the same division as Painswick, are also through to the last 16 of the Voneus Village Cup.

Last year’s runners-up, who won the competition in 2022, booked their place with a five-wicket win over Pelsall and now host Northamptonshire side Loddington & Mawsley early next month.