EVESHAM continued their preparations for the new season when the senior side earned a comfortable six-wicket victory over Solihull Blossomfield last Saturday.

Solihull elected to bat first and were shot out for 162 with Will Bailey and Francois Nel providing a formidable new ball attack and left-arm spinner Stewart Langstone taking 4-54.

Ian Stowe and overseas recruit Mark Penter were soon back in the pavilion but the reply was turned around by skipper Barry Clements (61) and Stuart Berry, who continued his good run of form with another half-century.

Neal Radford then saw Evesham home with five overs to spare.

Banbury was the destination the next afternoon when openers and Nel added a staggering 207 with the former hitting the ball to all parts of Banbury with a destructive 89-ball century.

The Western Australian showed his class with a stylish 82 as the pair spearheaded a visiting total of 282-6 from 45 overs.

The hosts were never interested in their victory target and instead elected for batting practice.

Fifteen-year-old leg break bowler Jamie Anderson was the pick of the Evesham bowlers with figures of 2-28 off eight overs. Andrew Fisher (14) also bowled well with 3-44 as Banbury ended on 228-6.

The two matches proved very useful preparation ahead of Saturday's Birmingham League opener at home to Redditch.

Nel wasn't the only Springbok to make hay in the sunshine as Bretforton's overseas player also smashed a century.

Morne Heyneke scored an unbeaten 112 from 97 balls in a friendly against Badsey - an innings that contained seven 4s and the same number of 6s.

Chasing 285 for victory, Badsey then found the South African a handful with the ball as Heyneke claimed wickets with his opening two deliveries in a spell of 3-11 that helped dismiss the Worcestershire County League side for 123.