Lodway continued their promotion push with a hard-fought 48-run victory at Ham Green against Bristol West Indian Phoenix 2nds, in a result that leaves them just one win from top spot.

Having chosen to bat first against a depleted BWIP side, Lodway lost birthday boy Tobias Rice early for 5, and he was able to regret his poor shot selection at leisure as Adam Robson and Ben Stitfall combined for 114 runs for the second wicket. Both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, but Stitfall fell soon after for 51, and it was then down to Caolan Pearce (25) and Paul Stubbs to keep Robson company and propel Lodway to a commanding total. Stubbs hit four maximums in his 36, including one over a passing bus, before he fell with the score at 229. Robson was three short of his century when Stephen Edmonds joined him, and the younger of the pair brought up his well-deserved century before falling for 105 (96), taking acclaim from all corners of Ham Green. Edmonds continued his good recent form, smearing 23 from 13 balls before finding the boundary fielder, handing Ricardo Williams an expensive 5-for in the penultimate over. A couple more tail-end wickets fell in the last over, and, when the dust had settled, Lodway took tea at 280-9.

BWIP made a confident start in reply, putting on a half-century opening stand, even if they were not up with the run rate, and opening bowler Jack Roberts (1-20) was the first to strike to send back visiting skipper Ricardo Robinson for 12. First-change bowler Stitfall (2-32) then dismissed BWIP’s other opener and the number 3, both thanks to catches from home skipper, Joe Crutchley, but no more wickets were to fall in the first 28 overs, as Ricardo Williams and Renel Stewart put on 42 together for the fourth wicket. Matty W Crutchley (1-31) finally dismissed Stewart (24), before Pearce and Edmonds combined to run out Williams (37), but wickets were still proving hard to take, and, in an attempt to buy wickets at the death, skipper Crutchley turned to his opening batsmen to offer up some filthy spin. Although centurion Robson was let down by his butter-fingered boundary riders, birthday boy Rice was able to snare two hapless victims, finishing with 2-10, with Zemroy Thomas left stranded on 47 not out as stumps were drawn at 232-7; Lodway claiming 18 out of a possible 20 points.

Next week Lodway take their promotion charge to Keynsham, knowing that only a victory will do before table-toppers Bath 3rds visit Ham Green in a fortnight