Bowler's display with bat gives Corsham a chance of staying up

Corsham's 56-run home win over drop zone rivals Thornbury means only nine points now separate five sides battling to avoid the two relegation places in Premier One of the Globe Sports West of England Premier League.

The Wiltshire side rallied from 35 for two to eventually total 286 for nine, Tom Bowler top-scoring on 95 before being run out and opener Robin D'Souza hitting 54 as Wayne Kylander returned season-best figures of six for 56 from ten overs.

Juvaunie Gayle hit 85 in Thornbury's reply while there was also 39 from Kylander as D'Souza claimed two for 24 from eight overs.

Corsham, the only side in the bottom half of the table to record a victory, remain last but are now only six points behind Weston-super-Mare who went down by three wickets at home to Downend.

The Seasiders made a solid start after winning the toss, reaching 173 for three thanks to the efforts of John Williams (46), Jackson Davey (44) and opener Simon Green (41).

Downend battled back to restrict the home side to 205 for nine with tight spells from Matt Jackson (one for 22), brother Phil (one for 29), James Turnor (two for 29) and Richard Pandya (one for 30 from ten).

Matt Jackson then played the key innings as Downend completed the double over Weston with almost three overs in hand, top-scoring on 67 with Gloucestershire's Richard Coughtrie contributing 37 at the top of the order.

Shabil Ahmed was the pick of the Weston attack, bagging three for 18 from ten.

Bristol remain in trouble after a 70-run home defeat against Frocester who reached 234 for eight, Gloucestershire's Jack Taylor top-scoring on 60 and Ashley Davis hitting 46 as Will Rudge (four for 50), Bobby Brown (two for 41) and Charlie Walker (two for 15) shared the wickets.

Shazil Mustafa hit 48 in Bristol's reply with only Rudge (40) also able to establish himself as Oliver Jones took three for 17.

Bath stay top after a three-wicket home win over Bridgwater, and Taunton Deane repeated that margin of victory in their derby against struggling Taunton St Andrews.

In Premier Two, Bristol West Indians are only 11 points clear of ninth-placed Chippenham after suffering a fourth defeat in their last five outings, this time folding to a 136-run reverse at home to Westbury.

Skipper Joe Breet dominated the visitors' imposing total of 318 for nine with an unbeaten 147, Scott Lewis the next highest scorer with 36.

BWI, in reply, were soon in trouble, slipping to 26 for four and then 82 for eight before Patrick Langlais smashed an unbeaten 64 to help his side reach 182 all out, Simon Rose finishing with six for 35.

Keynsham were comfortable 45-run victors at Warminster who were dismissed for 272, opener Chris Poulton top scoring on 104. Sam Pollinger (three for 61) and Rich Wilton (two for 44) were the pick of the attack.

A 109-run second-wicket stand between Russ Wakefield (79) and skipper Gary Worgan (58) put Keynsham on course for 317 for seven, Paul Robbins adding 88.

MPHO Selowa hit 149 while Chris Phillips crashed an unbeaten 72 off only 27 balls as Stapleton kept alive their slim hopes of avoiding relegation from the WEPL's Bristol & Somerset division with a 64-run home win over fellow strugglers Uphill Castle.

Left-hander Selowa, batting at three, found form against the Weston side with 15 fours and 5 sixes in his 121-ball innings.

Opener Steve Leonard hit 75 before Phillips boosted his side's total to 348-6 with 3 fours and 8 sixes in a quick-fire innings that ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides.

Andre Belcher then held the Uphill reply together with a fine 135 off 143 balls (17 fours, 4 sixes) before he fell victim to teenage paceman Hamza Sultan Ali (3-75) while Leonard bagged 3-39.

Old Bristolians Westbury continued their fight to avoid a return to the Bristol & North Somerset division with a four-wicket home defeat of second-placed Minehead who were bowled out for just 133.

Leaders Chard were six-wicket winners at Bishopston who were bowled out for 147, Stuart Luff top scoring on 44 as Chris Scott finished with 5-54.

Ryan Adams and Ben Mason then claimed an opener apiece as Chard stuttered to 25-2 but Mike Kennedy's unbeaten 52 helped his side home.