DUMBLETON opened their defence of the Voneus Village Cup with a convincing seven-wicket Worcestershire group win away to Hagley.

The home side had to work hard to reach a total of 115 after losing the toss, Will Sharp (3-25), Jamie Diamond (2-11) and Ollie Horne (2-21) leading the attack.

Opener Finn Brabham (44) and captain Rupert Salmon (37) then took charge of the chase as the victory was completed with almost 40 overs to spare.

Dumbleton will now be away in the group semi-finals to Quatt on May 21.

Centenary celebrating Kingsholm, meanwhile, brushed past Gotherington in the Gloucestershire group by ten wickets.

Gotherington were rumbled for just 64, Dominic Court finishing with fabulous figures of 5-20 from eight with Russell Beacham (2-0) and Neil Rayer (2-11) lending support before Ben Cowap (49 not) led Kingsholm’s charge.

Their reward is a home group semi-final against Marshfield or Winterbourne who meet on May 14.

In the other half of the draw, Almondsbury emerged nine-wicket victors at Apperley who were rushed out for 85.

Matt Smith (4-12 from five) was the pick of the attack before captain Jack Kewley (59 not) helped his side romp to their target in only 13 overs.

Almondsbury will now be home to Painswick who had a walkover against Frampton-on-Severn.

In Oxfordshire, Langford were dismissed for 103 ahead of succumbing by three wickets at Riddington. And Bristol side Stapleton conceded their Somerset & Avon trip to Wembdon.

The calculators had to be brought out to establish that it is Bristol who go through to the next stage of the WEPL qualifying tournament for a place in the ECB National Club Twenty20 after a tight finish in a triangular at Clevedon.

Bedminster opened the day with a 13-run win over the hosts before Bristol edged Bedminster by five wickets.

The final match then saw Clevedon clinch a three-wicket victory over Bristol with just three balls to spare, but it was Bristol who narrowly qualified on net run rate.

Tewkesbury, meanwhile, will host a triangular on Sunday against Hatherley & Reddings and Frocester. The action will start at 10am.

A total of 36 WEPL clubs are taking part in a tournament to produce a qualifier for the first national round.

Golden Hill, who had a walkover against Clevedon, will now be away to Bath on Sunday (1pm) in a ECB National Club Championship Group Nine quarter-final.

Bedminster will be home in Group 10 to St Cross Symondians, of Winchester, and Bristol travel to WEPL Premier One rivals Taunton Deane.