TONY Neel has become the oldest winner of our Evening News/Fearnley Factory Shop Cricketer of the Week award -- aged 71!

The veteran scooped the bowling prize with devastating figures of 6-24 playing for Kays against Worcester Nomads seconds in a friendly.

Bowling what he describes as "old-fashioned leg-breaks", Neel had four of his victims caught, one bowled and one trapped lbw as his side won by nine wickets.

He said: "I was pleased with the way I bowled. With my advancing years I take a few games to get into it but this season I have hit form reasonbly early.

"The wicket was quite wet which does tend to suit my bowling."

Neel is now in his 51st year playing for Kays. He also turns out for Old Elizabethans on Saturdays.

He added: "I love the game and it would be a terrible blow when I have to call it a day."

The batting prize for another rain-affected weekend went to Dave Powell, whose innings of exactly 100 helped Birlingham to victory over Stourbridge Social in a friendly.

His innings included eight fours and two sixes and was the first time he had played this season due to the weather.

Powell said: "It was quite straightforward really. I wouldn't have said I had to work particuarly hard for it -- they weren't the strongest of opponents."

The 37-year-old turns out occasionally for Birlingham on Sundays but plays his league cricket for Colwall.

Both players win £30 vouchers to be spent at the Fearnley Factory Shop cricket equipment specialists at Unit 10 Sherriff Street, Worcester.