WHILE Bretforton and Exhall and Wixford were notching up the most emphatic of victories, third-placed Overbury were featuring in a thriller at Moreton.

Overbury's win was achieved in amazing fashion when Ali Munro stepped up to bowl the last over with Moreton needing two runs to win.

Captain Keith Hurrell, who had seen Matt Gillett's 87 lead his side's recovery, was out first ball and injured replacement, 64-year-old Michael Hardiman, was joined at the crease by a runner.

Munro delivered four dot balls but the batsmen scampered a single off the final ball. The bowler then broke the stumps at the non-striker's end as Hardiman trudged towards the pavilion but the appeal was rejected by the umpire who then upheld a similar appeal when Munro hit the stumps at the other end!

Skittled

Premier Division leaders Bretforton skittled Tanworth for 86 with Rob Pratley taking 5-10 and then had nine wickets in hand when they passed their target.

Exhall piled up a mammoth 352-2 at Winchcombe who were then dismissed for 183. Openers Matt Gwynn (119) and Simon Hollands added 238 before the latter cut loose to post an incredible 169.

The misery wasn't over for the home bowlers as Charlie Mulraine thrashed a blistering half-century.

Winchcombe and Broadway are in dire trouble at the foot of the table although the latter again collected more points than their rivals at the wrong end of the table despite crashing to a fifth defeat in six matches.

The Snowshill Roaders dismissed Stratford Bards for 172 but their batting failed to shine again and the Alscote Park hosts recorded victory by 72 runs.

Shipston also struggled with the bat and only Simon Wickson (48) and Lawrence Stock (28) could find form as Earlswood were set 150 for victory.

An opening stand just one run short of the half-century mark laid the chasers a solid platform and Fotheringham's stylish 61 helped the visitors record an eight-wicket triumph.

Catherine-de-Barnes remain unbeaten in the first division after a three-wicket win at struggling Ebrington, while Bidford's 244-2 proved 24 too many for Twyning.

Norton Lindsey's undefeated start came to an abrupt end when they collapsed to 130 all out, Karl Shepherd 5-26, after Ashton had scored an impre- ssive 248-9.

Alcester and Ragley missed out on the chance to move top when they suffered at the hands of Wellesbourne's Austr-alian Ricky Burton. After surviving a sharp chance first ball, Burton scored 125 out of his side's daunting 305-6.

Alcester lost two early wickets and an injury to Shaun Quirke hindered their chances. Gary Strain top scored with 75 in his side's 220-7 that included four wickets for man of the match Burton.

The leading handful of sides in Division Three all recorded wins and it's Shipston who lead the way altho-ugh they are only 15 points ahead of Norton Lindsey.

Fladbury made it four wins from six fourth division starts but have had their lead at the summit cut to 12 points.

Racing

The leaders picked up 18 after seeing off Ashorne but Kenilworth collected 22 after racing to a nine-wicket win in pursuit of Rowington's 181-8.

Chris Key produced the innings of the day as Henley's second string defeated Ashton by four wickets.

Key smashed 116 not out and shared a seventh wicket stand of 121 with Mel Griffiths, who scored just four runs as his partner completely monopolised the visiting bowling attack.

Bretforton raced to a superb seven-wicket sixth division win at home to Claverdon with teenager Jamie Clarke helping himself to 112 not out.

Welford crashed to a first defeat of the summer against Alvechurch on a day when Exhall's third string won for the first time.