A SUPERB team effort from Cheltenham resulted in an emphatic 87-run victory at Keynsham in Premier Two.

Cheltenham elected to bat first on a tricky-looking pitch and Rhys Miller and Grant Hodnett conducted a careful reconnaissance against some probing new-ball bowling from Richard Pannell and Gloucestershire academy left-armer Paul Robbins.

They put on 50 for the first wicket in 14 overs in testing conditions, but having seen off the opening bowlers, Hodnett (30) was immediately bowled by the spin of Jack Taylor, also on Gloucestershire's books.

This brought Jackson Thompson to the crease and, as usual, he attempted to dominate while Miller patiently anchored the innings.

These two put on 76 for the second wicket in 15 overs before Thompson (46 from 40 balls) drove the first ball of Robbins' second spell straight into the hands of Pannell at cover.

This triggered a mini-collapse as four wickets fell for 12 runs, but Wade Ridsdale and then Charlie Hall and Will Simmons steadied the innings before launching an assault in the final overs.

Ridsdale made 32 from 40 balls before being bowled by the persevering Robbins, Hall batted confidently for his 32 – which included the only six of the day straight over spinner Simon Knowles' head – and Simmons ensured that the full 50 overs were used in an unbeaten innings of 14 from 21 balls.

This all added up to a useful total of 215 for seven.

Keynsham found batting every bit as difficult as Cheltenham and lost wickets at regular intervals.

Only opener Graham Williams stood firm as Patrick Parkin took three wickets in his spell of 11 overs.

Coach Steve Cashmore, fielding as substitute, turned back the years by taking a textbook slip catch to remove Russell Wakefield in the first over and Parkin also had Ian Payter caught at mid-on for three and trapped James Golding leg before for a duck.

Charlie Hall was equally threatening from the other end and took the important wicket of Taylor when Hodnett took an outstanding one-handed catch diving to his left.

Ben Parnell had Pannell brilliantly caught one-handed by the diving Simmons behind the wicket with his first ball and Keynsham were in disarray at 42 for five after 15 overs.

Tim Percival then entered the fray and, despite conceding 10 runs from his first two deliveries through leg-side wides, had Williams leg before for a grafting 46. Then, for the third time in consecutive weeks, he took two wickets in two balls to remove Mark Branton and Jobbins. Wicketkeeper Jon Baker prevented Percival taking a hat-trick.

Thompson then came on and mopped up the tail and Keynsham were all out for 128 in 35.3 overs.