Tewkesbury have moved into the top half of Premier 2 Glos/Wilts of the West of England Premier League after a nailbiting last-ball two-wicket win over Cheltenham.

Six singles from the final over bowled by George Pritchard got them over the line with Matt Stevens scoring the decisive run on Saturday.

Stevens had joined Tom Morris after Wade Ridsdale was eighth out at the start of the 48th over with the score on 212, with Tewkesbury then requiring a run a ball to win.

The home side had lost seven wickets for 43 – Pritchard, Josh Breed and Liam Walker all finished with two wickets apiece – before the ninth-wicket partnership’s late heroics.

But while Morris and Stevens were the last-over heroes, the victory was set up by opening batsman Josh Richards who made 110 before falling to Walker.

The club's overseas player hit 12 fours and three sixes in his 130-ball innings and middle-order batsman Louis Whitmore said: “He batted very well, he’s a good player.

“He’s already got a couple of 70s for us this season.”

The South African was the second wicket to fall with the score on 169 and Whitmore admitted: “It did get a bit nervy at the end.”

Earlier Gareth Roderick, the former Gloucestershire wicketkeeper/batsman, made 62 as Cheltenham reached 228-7 from their 50 overs. 

The 33-year-old, who these days plays for Worcestershire, opened the innings and was the third wicket to fall with the score on 124 after sharing a partnership of 62 with James Boyle.

Boyle fell soon after for 40 – both were dismissed by Fraser Lovejoy – before some late fireworks by Pritchard, who hit five fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 45-ball 55, gave the visitors renewed hope. 

Ridsdale had earlier bowled his 10 overs for just 21 runs and also picked up a couple of wickets.

Cheltenham, who host Painswick on Saturday, remain fourth in the 10-strong division, one place and eight points ahead of Tewkesbury.

Tewkesbury travel to second-placed Dumbleton in four days’ time.