WHILE Paul Jones was blasting Bretforton 17 points clear at the top of the Cotswold Hills League, Exhall and Wixford again displayed their intentions to defend their Premier Division title.

Early pacesetters Tanworth were the visitors and they were quickly put in their place as Exhall picked up a couple of cheap early wickets.

Paul Shortley and Nick Byrd rescued the situation with a century stand that enabled the visitors to post a competitive 224-7.

Matt Gywnn found the boundary with great regularity after tea and opening partner Simon Hollands followed suit after a slow start.

The pair had added 164 when Hollands fell for a well-struck 81 a wicket that brought Charlie Mulra-ine to the crease.

Elegant

Despite a hamstring problem, the newcomer stroked an elegant 41 and the speed of his innings prevented Gwynn reaching three figures but his innings of 84 not out was the bedrock of the defending champions' nine-wicket success.

It doesn't get any better for basement side Broadway whose bowlers were thumped to the tune of 304-5 at Overbury.

However, the Snowshill Road club's batters fared better and a reply of 212-9 will give them confidence in their quest to avoid the drop.

Their seven-point haul was more than all their rivals near the foot of the table. Earlswood picked up six in a 37-run defeat at Moreton, while Winchcombe could only manage four in a seven-wicket reverse at Stratford Bards.

Shaun Quirke's return to action after a season out with injury was bad news for Twyning who were left shellshocked as Alcester and Ragley posted an imposing 330-3 at Ragley Park.

There was little hint of what was to follow as the hosts reached 111-2 after 27 overs when Quirke took centre stage to smash nine 6s and 23 4s in an amazing innings of 172 not out that helped Alcester post their highest ever league total.

Twyning made a good start in reply through Rogers and Goodwin but they were never in the hunt as Lewis Clark collected four wickets and two late ones for Marc Woolley left the chasers 23l all out in the 43rd over.

Norton Lindsey top the section after easing to an eight-wicket win over Ebrington, while Kineton lead the second division after a similar margin of victory over Rowington.

There was at least some cheer at Shipston where the second team's 107-run defeat of Earlswood left them at the summit of Division Three after wins for the top four sides.

Fladbury, chasing a third successive promotion, lead Division Four by 16 points after a narrow win over Alcester and Ragley's second string.

Headway

Colin Cole fell seven runs short a hundred as Fladbury totalled 214-6 and that didn't look enough as Fawthrop (55) and Hedges (49) made excellent headway. However, Owen Donovan's introduction turned the game the top side's way and his figures of 4-33 saw Alcester fall six runs short of their target.

Comfortable wins for Cookhill and Blockley leave last season's two promoted sides out in front in Division Five.

The trio of sides at the top of Division Six remain undefeated but it's Catherine-de-Barnes who hold a nine-point lead over Welford after an eight-wicket win at Broadway.

Alvechurch are in third place after a similar margin of victory after dismissing Kineton for 112.