SCOTT Ayres took three wickets and Josh Middlecote hit 65 runs as Parkend burnished their credentials for a second successive promotion.

The win over strugglers Hatherley stretched the gap over third-placed Apperley – who lost on Saturday – to 34 points.

Put into bat, Middlecote and Jake Parsons made it 89 for the first wicket.

Parsons was caught which was perhaps predictable given that 24 of his 27 runs came from boundaries.

The home side had a bit of a wobble with Middlecote the fourth Parkend man to go when the score was on 118, having scored 13 boundaries.

Arran Parsons settled any nerves with a 41 that included a six and seven fours off 31 balls.

There was also a late flourish from tailenders Henry Blunt and Sam Haddock.

Batting at eight and nine, wicketkeeper Henry Blunt hit 26 off 23 balls including three fours and a six while Haddock made 15 off 18 balls with two fours.

It took the bowlers to breach the visitors’ attack with Tom Tremlett getting the breakthrough on 47

Wickets for Robbie Jones and Haddock reduced the visitors to 56-3.

The next wicket went on 90, Tremlett taking a catch off Mark Moodie.

Parkend saw off two wickets with the score on 105 – Moodie with a successful appeal for lbw and Ryan Burris on target.

The last four wickets went for 38 runs with the visitors 91 runs adrift.

Scott Ayres took three wickets, two for Robbie Jones and Mark Moodie and one each for Tom Tremlett, Ryan Burris and Sam Haddock.

Ayres bowled 7.5 overs, two of which were maidens, for 28 runs.