Shipston-on-Stour too strong for Alcester and Ragley in Premier Division of the Cotswold Hills League
Shipston-on-Stour eased their relegation fears with a two-wicket win over Alcester and Ragley in the Premier Division of the Cotswold Hills League.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Alcester and Ragley were bowled out for 157 with Rohan Campbell registering 45 before he was one of five victims for Harry Radley 5-34.
Shipston-on-Stour looked in trouble at one stage, but a crucial ninth wicket stand between Jack Murphy 43 not out and Ashley Ireland 12 not out saw them over the line.
Second-placed Tanworth and Camp Hill closed the gap on league leaders Wellesbourne to just a point after a thrilling one-run at the David Brazier Memorial Ground.
Andy Turnbull's knock of 58 proved crucial for the hosts, who found runs hard to come by, as Greg Ricketts 3-21 and Gary Maynard 3-47 produced the goods with the ball in a total of 167.
In reply, Kahlem Reardon 46 and Sanjay Sridhar 38 both made useful contributions before Wellesbourne lost their last six wickets for 45 runs.
A solid batting display from Kineton saw them prevail by 34 runs at Adlestrop.
Sam Cooper top-scored with 55 in a total of 235 for 5 and Alastair Loughton claimed 4-44 to secure victory.
Robert Perry picked up 4-17 with the ball and then notched 80 with the bat as Exhall and Wixford coasted to an eight-wicket success at Lapworth.
In Division One, FISCC were convincing nine-wicket winners at Elmley Castle.
The hosts were bowled out for just 90 with Sathish Kumar 4-23 ripping through the Elmley Castle batting order.
FISCC's run chase was swift and clinical for the loss of just one wicket.
Oliver Horswill was the anchor, seeing them home with an unbeaten 41, aided by 31 not out from Prasanna Jayaram.
Southam were seven-wicket victors at Temple Grafton.
Nate Blundell's 93 and 51 from Lewis Bilbrough set a competitive 234 for 7 from Temple Grafton's 45 overs.
In reply, opener Pete Rigney posted an unbeaten 66 and there were half-centuries for both Luke Church and Lewis Dodds as Southam coasted to victory with more than seven overs to spare.
Henley-in-Arden romped to an eight-win win at home to Woodbourne in Division Two.
Chris Key 4-9 and Basan Uddin 3-19 ripped through the home batting order after the miserly Saleem Jan claimed 2 for 3 from his 10 overs.
Key then hit 30 with the bat as Henley reached their target inside nine overs.
There were also no problems for Norton Lindsey and Wolverton, who ran out seven-wicket winners at Shipston-on-Stour 2nds.
Oliver Watson laid the foundations by picking up 4-25 with the ball before Jake Rushton hit 89 and Stuart Shephard an unbeaten 55 in reply.
Long Itchington conceded their clash at Moreton-in-Marsh.
Promotion-chasing Great Alne were the only local victors in Division Three.
Matthew Swift 3-31 and Joe Walters 55 both made telling contributions as they chased down 123 for victory with seven wickets to spare inside 16 overs.
Bidford-on-Avon suffered an agonising one-wicket defeat to Tanworth and Camp Hill 2nds, Claverdon fell 146 runs short against Broadway, while Welford-on-Avon were 95 runs shy against Overbury.
Snitterfield claimed a crucial four-wicket win over Hunningham in Division Five, where Diwaker Bandanwal claimed 5-13 from his nine overs, but there was no such luck for Blockley, who fell 114 runs short at Southam.
