HIMBLETON moved a step closer to promotion from Worcestershire Cricket League Division Three with a well-earned 70-run victory over a determined Avoncroft side.

Opting to bat first on a firm wicket the visitors made rapid progress after the early loss of stand-in opener Mike Rogers (7).  In-form Richard Sugden (26) and Ali Pretty (48) added 60 at a run-a-ball.

But when Sugden’s needless run out was swiftly followed by Pretty playing on and Sean Jenkins (28) got bowled by Paul Athey (2-40) Himbleton were teetering at 116-4 after 20 overs. 

Captain Stuart Dickenson and his deputy Jamie Alford shared a match-winning partnership of 143 in just 18 overs.

Dickenson played a supporting role as Alford went on the counter-attack and his 78 came off only 53 balls including seven boundaries and four maximums.

Once he departed Dickenson moved to 98 from 97 balls with a flurry of boundaries including three sixes in one over before being dismissed with three balls left.

Rob Perrins (30) helped take the score to 334-7 off 50 overs.

In reply Avoncroft’s openers faced the unerring accuracy of Sam Jenkins (1-47) and Rob Perrins (1-48).

But the batsmen stuck to their guns and made good progress with the game finely balanced at 25 overs on 140-1.

Matt Hare (84) and Sam Hughes (26) looked to accelerate but spinners Paul Guy (3-46) and Sugden (0-30) bowled superbly in tandem with three crucial wickets.

Avoncroft needed 150 off the last 10 overs and Himbleton secured a comfortable victory with their hosts finishing on 264-6.

Himbleton remain top and 61 points clear of third-placed Bartestree and Lugwardine who visit on Saturday.

Second-placed Kempsey put Rushwick to the sword as they breezed past their opponents' 281.

Captain Chris Jones (88) led the way and on his return from a nasty head injury Sam O’Neill hit an undefeated 68 to inspire an eight-wicket win.

Bartestree and Netherton kept their slim promotion hopes alive with victories at Himley and at home to Malvern respectively.

Division One league leaders Redditch enjoyed a dream day as they pulled 45 points clear at the top.

While Ghulum Moyhuddin’s 5-40 secured victory for the table-toppers against lowly Pedmore title-challengers Worcester, Cookley and Bewdley all fluffed their lines.

Worcester went down at home to Eastnor and second-placed Cookley lost at Burghill, Tillington and Weobley as they could not reach the hosts' imposing 246 made with half-centuries from Ben Morgan and Toby Wildig.

Bewdley were bowled out for a meagre 117 at bottom club Droitwich as Jake Young and Ian Davies took four wickets each to gain Droitwich’s first win of the season.

Stourport climbed into fifth spot after overcoming Feckenham at home and Hagley kept their outside title hopes alive after defeating Colwall to climb into joint fourth.

In Division Two Edd Oliver inspired a return to form for Bromyard’s batsmen following the previous week’s dismal 45 all out by scoring an undefeated 83 to help chase down high-flying Bredon’s impressive 297.

It allowed leaders Evesham and Chaddesley Corbett to create breathing space at the top as they both won away from home.

Evesham strolled to a comfortable five-wicket victory at Coombs Wood and Waqas Ahmed (89) ensured second-placed Chaddesley cruised to an nine-wicket success at Wormelow.

Belbroughton kept their outside chances of promotion alive with a tight 13-run win at basement boys Harborne and Enville climbed to fifth following victory at Oldswinford who remain close to the relegation zone.

Worcester's Old Vigornians climbed four places after Dave Haddock’s haul of 4-34 secured an important win against relegation-threatened Lye.

Division Four's performance of the day came from Tony Hutchings as his destructive 6-18 against table-toppers Bromsgrove ensured second-placed Hanley Castle and Upton won the battle of the leading two.

Outsiders West Malvern and Tenbury took full advantage to drag themselves back into the title race.

Matthew Blatherwick-Hindmarsh made 95 for West which produced a narrow 23-run victory at home to Claverley and 71 from Keir Sellars ensured Tenbury secured victory over Hallow.

A fine 98 from Halesowen's John Ashton ensured Old Elizabethans remained bottom, Kidderminster beat Alveley and Worcester were thrashed by Stourport as Alex Cook made 119 and took 4-16.

In Division Five Stourbridge breathed life into the title race with a 24-point win at Romsley and Hunnington as leaders Barnt Green could only muster a winning draw at Pershore despite 102 from Aman Hussain.

Only 12 points separate the top two.

Old Hill outclassed Harborne to remain in third place, Oldswinford secured a winning draw against bottom club Enville and Droitwich achieved a winning draw against Redditch.

RESULTS: DIVISION ONE

Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 246 ao 20 B. Morgan 56, T. Wildig 53, Cookley 182 ao 6 B. Morgan 4-15. Burghill, Tillington & Weobley won by 64 runs.

Hagley 189-9 20 J. Trinham 59, J. Gooch 4-44, Colwall 136 ao 4 B. Wheeler 51. Hagley won by 53 runs.

Bewdley 117 ao 2 J Young 4-16, I Davies 4-27, Droitwich 118-5 20. Droitwich won by 5 wickets.

Pedmore 97 ao 1 G. Moyhuddin 5-40, Redditch 98-3 20. Redditch won by 7 wickets.

Feckenham 245 ao 6 J. Griffiths 65, M. Idress 56, J. Reddish 56, Stourport 248-6 20 M. Pratt 64. Stourport won by 4 wickets.

Worcester 158 ao 4 J. Khalid 4-45, Eastnor 160-8 20 A.Jha 54. Eastnor won by 2 wickets.

DIVISION TWO

Bredon 297 ao 7 M. Hill 87, M. Draper 67, R. Willis 4-42, Bromyard 298-7 20 E Oliver 83*, E. Smith 58, Z. Saeed 51. Bromyard won by 3 wickets.

Coombs Wood 182 ao 4, Evesham 186-5 20. Evesham won by 5 wickets.

Belbroughton 215-9 20 P. Hawk 55, Z. Ziarab 5-50, Harborne 202 ao 7. Belbroughton won by 13 runs.

Old Vigornians 131 ao 20, Lye 99 ao 4 D. Haddock 4-34. Old Vigornians won by 32 runs.

Enville 266-7 20, Oldswinford & Stour Social 241 ao 7. Enville won by 25 runs.

Wormelow 171-8 1, Chaddesley Corbett 173-1 20 W.Ahmad 89, M. Sajid 60*. Chaddesley won by 9 wickets.

DIVISION THREE

Astwood Bank 79 ao 0 M. Johnson 4-27, Martley 80-2 20. Martley won by 8 wickets.

Himbleton 334-7 20 S. Dickenson 98, J. Alford 78, Avoncroft 264-6 7 M. Hare 84. Himbleton won by 72 runs.

Five Ways Old Edwardians 243-6 20, Alvechurch & Hopwood 112 ao 2. Five Ways won by 131 runs.

Himley 120 ao 1, Bartestree & Lugwardine 121-3 20 B. Simpkin 55. Bartestree & Lugwardine won by 7 wickets.

Malvern 145 ao 0, Netherton 146-2 20 T. Lee 70*. Netherton won by 8 wickets.

Rushwick 281 ao 4 S. Tipper 75, Kempsey 284-2 20 C. Jones 88, S. O’Neill 68*, G. Cooke 56. Kempsey won by 8 wickets.

DIVISION FOUR

Old Elizabethans 222-6 4 D. Donaldson 68*, M. Walker 51, Halesowen 226-4 20 J. Ashton 98. Halesowen won by 6 wickets.

Bromsgrove 95 ao 3 T Hutchings 6-18, Hanley Castle & Upton 96-7 20. Hanley Castle & Upton won by 3 wickets.

Alveley 119 ao 0, Kidderminster 122-2 20. Kidderminster won by 8 wickets.

Hallow 181-7 3, Tenbury 182-4 20 K Sellars 71. Tenbury won by 6 wickets.

West Malvern 229 ao 20 M. Blatherwick-Hindmarsh 95, Claverley 206 ao 7 T. Grainger 67. West Malvern won by 23 runs.

Stourport 324-7 20 A.Cook 119, P.Williams 52, Worcester 128 ao 3 C.Fletcher 50, A.Cook 4-16. Stourport won by 196 runs.

DIVISION FIVE

Harborne 118 ao 1, Old Hill 123-3 24. Old Hill won by 7 wkts.

Oldswinford & Stour Social 210-7 17 H. Nightingale 56, Z. Mahmood 4-55, Enville 117-7 3. Oldswinford winning draw.

Barnt Green 244-9 15 A. Hussain 102, M.Bunn 5-40, Pershore 188-8 9. Barnt Green winning draw.

Droitwich 173 ao 13 B.Hicklin 4-20, Redditch 155-8 8 J.Smith 4-36. Droitwich winning draw.

Stourbridge 207-6 24 S Khawar 54, Romsley & Hunnington 145 ao 3. Stourbridge won by 62 runs.