WILL Faulkner finished with fine figures of 6-45 from ten as Bourton Vale inflicted a first defeat of the summer on leaders Tewkesbury, closing out a tense three-run home triumph in WEPL’s Gloucestershire division.

Bourton Vale battled their way to 126 all out after winning the toss, opener James Vlaeminck (50) and Faulkner (26) dominating the total as Tom Allcoat captured 4-48.

Faulkner then proceeded to run through Tewkesbury’s top order and at one stage had taken 5-9 from eight overs before Randeera Ranasingha went on the attack.

But he too fell to Faulkner, for 48 from only 24 balls, while two late strikes from left-arm spinner Danny Way then helped Vale seal an exciting win amid rising tension.

Tewkesbury remain top but are now only 15 points clear of Gloucester who trumped Cirencester by 100 runs, Thom Wilshaw (61) and Abhishekh Chidambaran (3-24) playing starring roles.

Ollie Louch hit 52 and followed up with 5-19 from eight for Chipping Sodbury as Charlton Kings folded from 99-2 to 117 all out and a 133-run reverse.

Half centuries from captain Ross Martin and Myles Holland saw Dumbleton to an eight-wicket success away to Cheltenham Civil Service, and Stroud were five-wicket local derby victors at Frocester 2nds where skipper Louis Gegg, brother Ewan and Andy Uys all hit half centuries.

Hatherley & Reddings moved up to third in Premier Two Glos/Wilts with an eight-wicket home win against promoted Royal Wootton Bassett who were rushed out for 126.

Max Kelly and Andre Soma both took three wickets ahead of opener Lesego Senokwane compiling an unbeaten 61.

Leaders Thornbury were 90-run victors at Goatacre, Robbie O’Donnell cracking 74 while Painswick held off Cheltenham by 21 runs with Luke Woolway (96) just missing a century.

Worcestershire’s Gareth Roderick (107) led the Cheltenham reply but his dismissal, by Jon Conolly (3-54), helped turn the tide.

In Premier One, Bedminster recovered from 103-8 to reach 234-9 at home to Frocester who then came up 54 runs short after West Indian pace man Oshane Thomas had earlier taken 4-55.

There was a second successive defeat for Bristol who went down by 189 runs at home to Bridgwater.

Premier Two Bristol/Somerset leaders Bishopston were five-wicket victors at Clevedon, Dom Hooper unbeaten on 82 while Golden Hill moved up to second with an eight-wicket home win against Keynsham.

Downend chased down a target of 348 at home to Midsomer Norton with three wickets and eight balls to spare, Patrick Grieshaber top scoring on 115 and Olly Sharp smashing a crucial 61 off only 24.

Promoted Bristol West Indian Phoenix made it three in a row in Bristol & North Somerset with a five-wicket win at Twyford House, opener Vishal Mamgai unbeaten on 59.

Frenchay skittled Bedminster 2nds for just 67 to seal a 178-run victory, captain Alex Stell claiming 4-16, after opener Jacob Cumming was earlier dismissed for exactly 100.

Brislington came up 70 runs short at Bath 2nds, Congresbury saw off Winterbourne by three wickets and Knowle trumped Bristol 2nds by 85 runs, Habib Naqvi (3-25) leading the attack.