By Charles Randall

3 June 2012

Chris Gange hit 165 not out off 151 balls for Bridgwater in a crushing 181-run win over Falmouth in the third round of the Kingfisher Beer Cup at The Parks, and victory extended the Somerset club's near flawless start to the season.

Gange, at number three, provided the bulk of a formidable 45-over total of 275-4, which Falmouth never looked like threatening when the former Somerset, Northamptonshire and Derbyshire seam-bowler Steffan Jones picked up three cheap wickets. This was Gange's second ton in successive matches after his 104 against Frocester had helped Bridgwater set the pace at the top of the West of England Premier League with four wins in four.

Bridgwater host the current Devon Premier League leaders Bovey Tracey in the regional final, a fascinating contest set for June 17. Gange, 28, a former Somerset 2nd XI batsman, played most of his league cricket for Taunton before joining Bridgwater this year with Jones for what looks like being a strong tilt at the title. He was involved in a controversy in 2005 when he smashed 171 off only 111 balls for Old Tauntonians against Leightonians in the Brewers Cup before it was discovered by the losers that he had not actually attended Taunton School as a pupil as the rules required, and the result was reversed. As commented at the time, 'ringers' should not draw attention to themselves in such a dramatic way.

Banbury followed up their Kingfisher Beer Cup victory over past cup winners Kibworth with a third-round trimming of High Wycombe, runaway champions of the Home Counties Premier League last year. Banbury posted a useful 237-5 and bowled High Wycombe out for 165. This set up a trip to Barnt Green and earned themselves the 'team of the month' award from the competition sponsors.

Banbury owed much to wicketkeeper Jonny Cater for his 49 not out, which took the score to a competitive level, and for his stumping that dismissed former Surrey batsman James Benning when he had reached 45 off 27 balls. The win was partial revenge for the previous day's league match that High Wycombe won by one run at their London Roard ground. Facing High Wycombe's 275-9, Banbury were boosted by 61 off 57 balls from Nathan Hawkes, but their last three wickets fell for one run, including Josh Megson stumped off the former Reading left-arm spinner Luke Beaven with nine balls remaining. Beaven finished with four wickets, and off-spinner Chris Sketchley took three, so that Banbury's left-arm spinner Luke Ryan returned his 8-96 in vain.