PENALLT & Redbrook CC bounced back from defeat against Stinchcombe the previous week, beating hosts Whitminster by 80 runs in Saturday’s Gloucestershire 7A clash.

After winning the toss, Whitminster elected to field and struck quickly removing one of Penallt's openers without score.

But captain Kamaal Mitha and Liam Hurcombe steadied the innings, the latter announcing his intention by smashing his first ball for four, and going on to score a fluent 23 runs, including five boundaries, before being bowled by Tom Johns.

Mitha played equally aggressively, striking 32 runs with two towering sixes and two fours before also falling to the same bowler (74-3).

Graham Emerson then walked in with confidence, striking his first delivery for four and never looked back in a superb display of attacking batting, dominating the Whitminster bowlers with a brilliant 80, including 12 boundaries.

And despite wickets falling at the other end, his outstanding innings guided Penallt to a competitive 201 all out off 38 overs.

Whitminster began positively as Oliver Greensweig and Luke Trigg played some attractive strokes, finding the boundary.

But Tim Swanson turned the game with a superb spell of accurate bowling, dismissing both dangerous openers for 19 and 38 respectively and finishing with 3-30.

Graham Hyde then removed two dangerous middle-order batsmen, before Shane Claridge claimed another wicket and Vipin Sathy picked up two.

Penallt also impressed in the field with run outs for Hyde and Sathy, highlighting an excellent team effort.

And Whitminster were bowled out for 122, handing Penallt & Redbrook a convincing 79-run victory.

Near neighbours and league rivals St Briavels won by six wickets at home to Quedgeley & Hardwicke 2nds, skipper opener Will Peters firing 69 not out and No 6 Simon Swindells 60 off just 42 balls as they reached 202-4 in 35.4 overs, chasing down 200-9 off 40 overs.

Swindells had earlier taken three wickets, Stuart Williams two and Will Peters two.

And Penallt & Redbrook host St Briavels at Pelham this Saturday (July 18).