Jonathan Kear scored 125 as Lydney claimed victory over Rockhampton by the narrowest of margins.

After the batsmen had set a target of 264 to win, the bowlers did their job, stopping the visitors just three short in a tense Gloucestershire Cricket League first division match.

It was the visitors who had the stronger start, taking two wickets in the first three overs.

Alex Nelmes was bowled with the fourth delivery of the innings by Jack Warren to make it 2-1.

Warren then claimed a wicket maiden, bowling Dafydd Nicholas with the final ball of the third to make it 11-2.

Rockhampton strengthened their position when Dave Kear was caught by William Cartlidge with the first ball of the eighth over.

Lydney were now 31-3 with Jonathan Kear having provided 21 of their runs.

The middle order added some much-needed stability to the Lydney innings, starting with Jordan Stone.

Stone and Kear put on 36 for the fourth wicket before the partnership was ended when Rowan Cartlidge took a catch.

Stone had scored 21 off 26 balls including three fours to make it 77-4.

The next partnership, between Kear and Jack Knox, put Lydney on the path to making a defensible total.

Knox hit 52 off 66 balls, including seven fours and a six before he was caught and bowled by Mikey Chandler.

The partnership had been worth 104 runs and took the home side to 181-5.

Jack O’Connell scored 12 as Lydney moved onto 221-6.

Halfway through the 43rd over, Kear was finally dismissed as he looked to added to his tally of 18 fours and one six.

William Cartlidge took the catch as Kear went for 125 off 131 balls.

Tom Hayward was 18 not out when the innings closed.

Rockhampton started at a gentle pace but it was not until the end of the 12th over that the first wicket fell when Peter Magafas was caught and bowled to make it 45-1.

It became 46-2 when Alex Nelmes ran out Louis Warren with the fourth ball of the next over which was bowled by Stone.

Stone was under the catch to dismiss Steffan Davies and make it 90-3 in the 21st.

Rockhampton had moved onto 169-3 when Tom Hayward struck twice in the 35th, bowling Will Cullimore with his third delivery while Dafydd Nicholas took a catch off the fifth.

A wicket fell in each of the next two overs with Callum Miller bowling William Cartlidge and then Nicholas took a catch.

With eight overs and three wickets left, the visitors needed 68.

Going into the final over, after hitting 56 off the previous four sets, eight were needed to nick victory.

Callum Miller immediately stamped his authority, bowling Warren for 49 with the first ball.

Two runs came off each of the next two deliveries but then Miller bowled Harrod with the fourth.

Jordan Harding failed to score from his first ball and needing four to draw off the last, he could only manage a single.