AN incredible innings by Old Elizabethans' Steve May has earned him the batting prize in the Evening News/Fearnley Factory Shop Cricketer of the Week awards.

And a seven-wicket haul from Phil Hipkiss of Knighton-on-Teme saw him take the bowling award.

May hit 193 for Worcester-based OEs against Barnards Green in a Worcestershire Sunday League game - yet still finished on the losing side!

His innings, which occupied 143 balls and included 10 sixes and 23 fours, is believed to be a club record and was a personal best for the 30-year-old, who also took 3-62 with his medium-pace bowling as Barnards Green successfully chased a target of 282.

Australian by birth but now English-qualified and living in Worcester, May's previous best, 144, was made in sub-district cricket in his home city of Melbourne.

He said: "It was a good batting track and I started off a bit slow but got into it as we went along. We had plenty of wickets in hand so I just went for it and it paid off."

Hipkiss, aged 41, earned his prize for a 12-over spell of 7-47 in a Worcestershire County League Division Five encounter with Alvechurch and Hopwood, which his side won by 18 runs.

In another high-scoring game, Knighton totalled an impressive 289-6 helped by centuries from Bob Gittins and Richard Powell.

But the visitors looked like reaching their target until the 41-year-old medium-pacer, who has been with Knighton since he was 13, got to work.

Hipkiss' first spell had brought him 1-32 in seven overs, but his second five-over stint brought him a devastating 6-15.

He explained: "It was down to a change of ends and just bowling off a full length. They were well in charge so I was brought back to see if I could do something.

"Fortunately I got their two top scorers out in my first over back, and in my last over I was on a hat-trick but just missed it. It was a very good game and the opposition were a very sporting crowd."

Hipkiss and May both win £30 vouchers to be spent at the Fearnley Factory Shop cricket equipment specialists, at Unit 10 Sherriff Street, Worcester (telephone 01905-612981).

Nominations for the award must be received no later than 12 noon on Tuesdays.