New run record for Bards as Exhall march goes on

The leaders are now a massive 62 points clear of the chasing pack after a five-wicket win at Moreton, who are one of a quartet of sides separated by eight points in the battle for second.

Bards rattled up 324-3 against a seemingly doomed Alcester and Ragley who replied with a gallant 217-8 to at least close the gap on third from bottom Twyning who were 96 all out in pursuit of Tanworth's 180-9.

Broadway totalled a creditable 197-6, Greg Hunt 55 not out, in their fight for survival but Overbury eased to a five-wicket win to move back into second place. Jon Gregory (70) and Paul Gillett (73) were the chief rungetters.

Shipston scored 309 of the 553 runs scored at London Road where Earls-wood's 244-7 was 66 short of their victory target.

Surprise

Bidford recorded the day's surprise result with a 72-run defeat of first division leaders Winchcombe.

The afternoon started badly for the visitors who conceded the toss and were asked to bat due to late arrivals.

However, openers Macer Nash and Mick Nason shared a half-century opening stand and the good work was carried on down the order with Any Pickles top scoring with 43 in a teatime total of 211-6.

It didn't get a lot better for the home side in reply with Nason, Neil Edkins, Don Nicholls and Chris Wyatt all enjoying success with the ball as the leaders slumped to 139 all out.

Ashton lost ground when Henley successfully chased 191 for victory thanks to an unbeaten 70 from Hearnden and 62 not out for Pahl.

Norton Lindsey also lost ground in the promotion race when they could only manage 108 in response to Bret-forton's 198. Paul Jones was in good form with both bat and ball hitting 61 and then taking 3-39.

The victory leaves the leaders nine points clear of Wellesbourne - comfortable winners at Warwick.

Guy Nicholls was Chipping Campden's hero in his side's second division success at Norton Lindsey. Nicholls smashed 142, an innings that included 17 4s and seven 6s, to help the visitors amass 244-5.

The hosts were never in the match after Kevin Reason and James Lindner got to work with the ball and only a half-century from Richardson saved Norton from even more embarrassment.

Elmley Castle bettered Bards' total by four when rattling up 328-2 at Exhall on an afternoon when Cla-verdon slipped down to third in Division Two after defeat against Catherine-de-Barnes who moved up to second behind new leaders Kineton who won at struggling Shipston.

Castle boasted two centurions with Cawson scoring 150 and Craig Sheward remaining unbeaten on 145.

Bottom of Division Three Rowington did their hopes of staying in Division Four a power of good after a seven-wicket win over Harvington.

They were indebted to a fabulous spell of bowling from Watts who took six wickets for nine runs from nine overs to leave the hosts requiring 151 for victory.

That looked a tall order when Trevor Knowles, 2-15 off ten overs, got to work but Jefferson (66no) and Ernington (45) shared an unbroken century stand for the fourth wicket.

Temple Grafton, eight-wicket winners at Twyning, have taken over at the summit after Woodbourne slipped to only a second defeat of the summer when Moreton claimed a five-wicket win on the road.

Both Fladbury and Mickleton, for whom Lord took five cheap wickets with only Monk in double figures for the losers, had twice that number of wickets back in the pavilion when the winning runs were scored in facile fifth division successes at Eckington and Elmley Castle respectively.

Section leaders Fladbury now lead Ashorne by 29 points after Dave Prudden (44no) and Dave Phipps (79no) had shared an opening stand worth 153.

Cookhill were one of four sides to pass 300 and their 306-3 against Evesham and subsequent 234-win triumph sees them 28 points ahead of closest Division Six rivals Blockley who lost just three batsmen in passing Broadway's 211-9.

Cook snapped up 4-18 for Blockley before Shaun Williams hit 69 not out and Dan Knight an unbeaten 71 as the Sparmoor side stayed firmly on the promotion trail.