ALCESTER regained the ascendancy in Cotswold Hills Two in the tightest of title races.

Starting the day second the Ragley Park side crushed Stratford Thirds by ten wickets to swap places with previous leaders Stratford Bards, who surprisingly lost to Ashton.

And Alcester go into Saturday's potential title-decider at Stratford Bards (1.30pm start) 0.22 points ahead.