FIRST met second at the Parkend Cricket Ground on Saturday but it was leaders Quedgeley who cemented their commanding lead at the top of Division Six of the County League.

The home side won the toss and put the visitors into bat, making early progress.

Scott Ayres had Mike Carratu lbw for nine to make it 16-1 and he struck again to bowl Jake Huggins on his first ball to reduce the visitors to 16-2.

Quedgeley were 90-2 at drinks but a formidable partnership between Ben Hopkins and John Brown kept the scoreboard moving forward.

The pair made 186 for the third wicket before opener Hopkins went for 106, caught by Luke Aldridge off the bowling of Mark Moodie.

Brown went with only one more run being added to put Quedgeley on 204-4.

He was bowled by Ryan Burris for 73.

Connor Millin was caught by Timmy Andrew off the bowling of Tom Tremlett to make it 211-5.

Tremlett’s bowling also persuaded Sam Huggins to hit the ball to become the sixth wicket to fall when he was caught by Josh Middlecote. The visitors were on 213.

Adam Hopkins was the seventh wicket, run out by Robbie Moore and the innings closed on 235.

Parkend struggled with the bowling and only Robbie Moore, Ryan Burris and Henry Blunt made it into double figures.

Moore was bowled for 29, Burris went lbw for 23 and Blunt was caught for 13.

Parkend are still on for promotion with a 33-point advantage over Apperley with two games to go.