AN unbeaten knock of 158, including 15 sixes, was enough to land Himbleton's John Caudle the batting prize in our Evening News/Fearnley Factory Shop Cricketer of the Week awards.

And a career-best analysis of 7-34 earned the bowling honours for Pershore's Steve Emsley.

Caudle's efforts rescued a tricky situation for Himbleton seconds in their Worcestershire County League clash with Amblecote and Wollaston and helped them achieve a winning draw.

They were 90-5 when he came to the wicket and the 30-year-old wasn't full of confidence as he'd recorded three ducks in his previous four innings!

"Normally I go in the top four but because I hadn't scored any runs I thought I would go down the order and give someone else a chance," he said.

"It just came off on the day -- my first 50 took about 70 balls, the second 50 about 40 balls and the third 50 off nine balls -- that shows what sort of an innings it was!"

Caudle's score equalled his career-best and helped the village side to an impressive total of 310-8.

He hopes to use his prize to go towards a new pair of boots -- he split a boot while bowling.

Emsley, aged 18, achieved his first ever seven-wicket haul playing for Pershore seconds in a league game at Netherton, which they won by 47 runs.

The medium-pacer said he was helped by the pitch. "It was breaking up right from the start, and I just tried to put it in the right place.

"The ball was swinging a bit but it was moving off the pitch as well."

Four of his victims were caught, two bowled and two trapped lbw.

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

Next week's awards will be our last of the season.