NORTH Cotswold Young Cricketers moved a step nearer to retaining the Under-13 title after an emphatic win over undefeated Dumbleton.

The visitors were unable to make much headway against the NCYCC attack and lost wickets at regular intervals.

It was left to Ben Atk-inson and Joe Benjamin, in a partnership of 29, to rescue Dumbleton as they closed on 238-6.

With all the batsmen in good form, NCYCC made light work of overhauling their target after David Turner and Alex Green hit 31 between them in a brisk opening stand.

Their efforts were followed up by an aggressive 30 stand from Matt Mitchell and Ben Hughes.

Jack Glover and Robert Payne contributed 18 and Tom Clarkson and Matt Spencer ran up 14 to give NCYCC 293 without loss and a 55-run victory.

The club's young players treated a large crowd to a magnificent bowling and fielding display and nearly produced a shock result in a low scoring encounter against a county squad.

A brilliant catch by Stephen Cross off the bowling of paceman Jim Sipthorp (2-5) got NCYCC off to a dream start.

With both the early and middle order Worcester-shire batting swept aside it was left to top scorer Alan Wilkinson, 33 (no) to play a classy innings to rescue the visitors.

While the bowlers shared the wickets the outstanding feature was the eight catches taken as Worcestershire were hustled out for 108.

The reply started badly as the early batsmen were undone by a lively pace attack. Dovey and D'Oli-vera bagged five wickets between them, but a polished and disciplined innings from skipper Tim Peachey (44no) kept the hosts in with a chance.

The pursuit was finally snuffed out by a three wicket burst from player of the match Wilkinson who helped his side to a 23-run victory.

The Under-16s kept their title hopes alive with a narrow five-run victory over Stratford.

Chris Wenlock (26 ret) and Alex Thompson (25) were the main contributors in a total of 111-4 off their 20 overs. John O'Leary (2-19) was Stratford's most successful bowler.

Apart from Oliver Hazel (33), Stratford were unable to take advantage of some indifferent NCYCC bowling, but the ever improving left-arm spin of Daniel Salvage (2-19) was invaluable as the home side subsided to 106-9.