PENALLT & Redbrook CC won by three wickets away to King’s Stanley 2nds on Saturday to move into third in the Gloucestershire 7A table.

King’s Stanley won the toss and elected to bat, with openers Ian Newns and Matthew Smith getting their side off to a flying start.

Smith was particularly aggressive, finding the boundary regularly and putting the Penallt bowlers under pressure.

However, the visitors fought back brilliantly, and Graham Hyde dismissed the dangerous Smith after a superb innings of 72 runs (123-1), while Rajesh SR took the wicket of Newns for 32 (131-2).

With the two openers removed, Kings Stanley's middle order struggled against a disciplined Penallt attack.

Kuldeep Singh was outstanding taking three wickets, while Hyde and Rajesh claimed two apiece, and Myles Ruck picked up one wicket.

King’s Stanley finished their 40 overs on 186/8, with Penallt producing an excellent bowling performance to restrict what had looked like being a much bigger total.

The visitors lost their first two wickets early on though (38-2), but opener Tom Allan and Guy Adams produced a brilliant 126-run partnership to put them firmly back in control.

Tom played a sensational innings and came agonisingly close to a century, eventually holing out for a 94 that included an outstanding 15 fours and two sixes.

At the other end, Adams continued his excellent season with another superb half-century — his third consecutive 50 of the season.

And his unbeaten 59, including 10 boundaries, saw them to 189-5 in 35 overs to secure a six-wicket win.

Elsewhere, Chepstow 1sts secured a vital 92-run win at home to Maesteg to give them hope of beating the drop from South Wales Premier 2.

Aaron Jones scored 56 and Scott Bailey 55 in their 241 all out before Bruno Chitnis took a magnificent six wickets to help dismiss the visitors for 149.

Chepstow visit Pentyrch on Saturday while Penallt & Redbrook host Arcadians Nine Elms 2nds.