Praneel Choughule starred with an unbeaten century and a double-wicket over as Lansdown 1st XI won for the fourth game running in West of England Premier Cricket League Premier Two Bristol/Somerset.
Lansdown 1st XI won for the fourth match running
Number three Choughule crafted 104 not out as the Down overpowered Old Bristolians Westbury by 63 runs on Saturday 26th July to keep the pressure on unbeaten table-toppers Midsomer Norton.
Second-placed Lansdown were asked to bat at Combe Park – and they posted 244-6 in their 50 overs.
But the hosts made an inauspicious start, skipper Jordan Smith and George Scott going cheaply to leave them 27-2.
Wickets continued to fall but Choughule was in imperious form.
Number five Luke Charlesworth made 24 but it was not until Sam Pearce came to the crease that Lansdown constructed a partnership worth more than 46.
The number seven hit a six and five fours in his 41 off 33 balls, he and Choughule putting on 64 for the sixth wicket in 10.4 overs.
Pearce’s exit left the Down 225-6 but Choughule kept going and finished with 14 boundaries in his 141-ball innings.
Most successful member of the Old Bristolians Westbury attack was Fletcher May, whose haul of 2-42 from 10 overs included Pearce’s scalp.
The guests, from Failand, were reduced to 34-2 in response. But Ben Harris and May gave the Down pause for thought, compiling a 57-run stand for the third wicket. They were parted when Harris was removed for 33 off the bowling of Pearce.
May was sent back for 45 off 72 balls – another victim of Pearce – and that left Old Bristolians Westbury 140-6 after 33.6 overs.
Number seven Jino Jojo was defiant in the face of adversity, making 33 at more than a run a ball before he was bowled by Choughule to see the visitors 178-9.
The end came three runs later, Choughule claiming his second wicket of the match when he bowled George Willis (1).
Old Bristolians Westbury were dismissed for 181 in 43 overs, Pearce pocketing 3-40 off 10 overs.
Josh Smith returned 2-24 in eight overs, Matthew Thomas snapped up 2-42 off 10 overs and Choughule celebrated 2-3 from his one over.
Lansdown will be looking for a fifth successive victory when they travel to third-placed Clevedon on Saturday 2nd August.
