Lodway 1st XI survived the hottest day of the year so far on Saturday to record a commanding 7-wicket win at home to Hambrook, ensuring that they kept pace with the other promotion chasers, with only 23 points now separating the top 5.

Having been asked to field first in the sapping afternoon heat, Lodway’s ginger nemesis, Cam Perry, was quick to punish another poor opening spell from Tobias Rice, leading Hambrook to 36 in the 8th over before the newly-affianced Ben Stitfall (1-16) struck at the other end to have Aaron Todd caught by Alfie Rendell for 6. That was to become the only black cloud in Hambrook’s afternoon and the Ham Green skies for the next 20 overs, as two drinks breaks came and went before Rimon Ahmed (1-44) finally broke the 76-run partnership of Perry and teenager Isaac Ahmed, who had found run-scoring tougher against both the spin pairing of Joe Crutchley (0-36 from 8) and Min Metcalfe (0-25 from 7) and the sultry natural conditions. Although the downfall of Perry encouraged Isaac Ahmed and new batsman Krunal Visavadia to play a few shots to increase the run rate, Ahmed was clearly struggling with his exertions in the heat, and eventually had to retire hurt on 34 from an exhausting 93 balls. Visavadia fell shortly after for 43 to a reenergised Rice (1-46), and, with Rendell (1-33) also striking before tea, Hambrook could only close on a seemingly under-par 208-5.

After a short recovery in the shade of the pavilion, the Lodway opening partnership of Rice and George Harris could only muster 29 before Harris found mid on with a mis-hit drive off Richard Dyer to fall for 8. When Stitfall fell for 4 shortly after, missing a full toss on leg stump from Dyer (2-25), Lodway were still 150 short, and it was down to Rice and Caolan Pearce to break the back of the chase. This third wicket partnership started slowly, reaching halfway to the target at the midpoint of the innings (and second drinks break) at 20 overs, but the introduction of Australian chinaman bowler Perry straight after drinks inspired the batsmen to play more attacking shots. Although Rice was dropped twice by veteran gloveman James Wigzell off Perry, runs really began to flow in the partnership of 122, proceeding at 10 runs an over, with Rice bringing up his first century for Lodway in any form of cricket, saluting all corners of the ground as he reached the long-awaited landmark, shortly after Pearce had brought up a half-century off his own. The young centurion could not see his side home, however, as he fell to Visavadia in the same over for a round 100, but Paul Stubbs was in no mood to top up his tan, bludgeoning 23 of the last 33 runs to see his side home with 9 overs to spare, with Pearce ending unbeaten on 57 (44) to continue to his fine league form.

The win sets Lodway up well for next weekend’s season-defining fixtures, with a league trip to third-place Timsbury on Saturday followed by a Sunday morning sojourn to Carsons & Mangotsfield for the Tony Hitch Cup semi-final.