PICTURES: Martley leap out of drop zone with victory over leaders Himbleton

Batting first Dan Johnson took the hosts' score to 35 off the first three overs before perishing on the cover boundary for 25.

Alexander Basford and Tom Vale enjoyed a 200-run third-wicket partnership as they took Himbleton apart at five-plus an over.

Basford (102) was first out and Vale completed his maiden century for the club before being stumped for 128.

A flurry of late wickets followed as Martley finished on 315-8 from 50 overs.

Bowlers Mark and Dan Johnson were then in miserly form, reducing the visitors to 21-3 off 12 overs.

Sean Jenkins held things together with a hard-hit 94 but Martley chipped away at the other end to remain in control.

Once Jenkins was out on 156 Himbleton kept going but wickets for George Griffiths, Alec Francis and James Francis saw them tumble to 200-7.

Two in a row for the returning Dan Johnson (5-24) saw them to the brink.

A stubborn last-wicket stand saw the visitors require seven from the last over for an unlikely losing draw but a run out for 231 all out gave Martley victory.

Second-placed Kempsey took full advantage with a maximum-point win over Avoncroft.

Joshua Jones (101) and Chris Jones (55) were the mainstays as their 311-7 helped reduce the margin to 10 points.

Netherton remained third after chasing down Alvechurch and Hopwood’s 200-9 for an eight-wicket victory.

Bartestree and Lugwardine climbed into fourth after beating Five Ways Old Edwardians.

Jeremy Pilgrim (5-53) ensured Malvern’s safety as they dismissed Astwood Bank for 75 to take maximum points.

Rushwick, thanks to James Saunders (101) and Stuart Parker (73), gained a winning draw against relegated Himley.

In Division One a second century in a row from Bewdley’s Rob Combes (105) could not stop table-toppers Redditch getting a winning draw in the battle of the top two.

Rizwan Chaudry scored 72 not out for Redditch to guide them to 241-7 before a sound bowling display ensured the visitors were kept 10 runs short.

Cookley gained a maximum-point win at home to fourth-placed Hagley to move up into second 25 behind leaders Redditch.

Michael Stead (68) and Daniel Giles (65) ensured the visitors posted 245-9 despite Jaimen Rudd’s 5-64.

Cookley had Matthew Goode to thank as his 74 helped them win by one wicket off the last ball.

Ryan Derrick (57) guided Stourport to fifth as they chased down Worcester’s 210-9 to win by three wickets.

Feckenham gained a winning draw against Colwall which should leave both clubs safe.

Barney Morgan (64) led Burghill, Tillington and Weobley to victory at Pedmore.

Eastnor were beaten in the battle of the basement by Droitwich Spa thanks to 99 from Ash Fearnall and 62no from skipper Martyn Davies.

In Division Two another fine bowling display from Ikram Mussadaq (5-55) and 90 from Mohammed Sajid virtually guaranteed Chaddesley Corbett promotion with an eight-wicket thrashing of relegated Harborne.

Second-placed Evesham tightened their grip as they marched to a five-wicket victory over their nearest rivals.

Mohammed Fahim Maan (5-62) helped restrict Bredon to 205-8 and Ali Asghar finished on 55no to seal victory, extending the gap to third to 27 points.

Enville beat a resurgent Bromyard by just four runs while Oldswinford and Stourbridge Social posted too many for Wormelow.

In-form Coombs Wood moved out of the drop zone with a three-wicket victory over Lye.

Division Four leaders Bromsgrove lost by four wickets at Claverley which allowed Hanley Castle and Upton to narrow the gap at the top to just three points.

Tony Hutchings’ 5-37 helped them to secure victory at Hallow.

Tenbury regained third spot at the expense of West Malvern who despite 81 from Will Lloyd could only muster a winning draw against Stourport as Ethan Lockwood finished unbeaten on 103.

Tenbury had Andrew Adams (113) and Tom Gloster (6-41) to thank as they eased to victory over Halesowen.

Bottom club Old Elizabethans, despite 92 from David Donaldson, could not stop Kidderminster chasing down 207-6 which leaves them set for the drop.

Alveley eased to victory over Worcester who are also likely to go down.

RESULTS - FIRST XI DIVISION ONE

Hagley 245-9 8 M. Stead 68, D. Giles 65 - J. Rudd 5-64, Cookley 246-9 24 M. Goode 75 - N. Hurst 4-54. Cookley won by 1 wicket.

Eastnor 177 a/o 2 M. Young 5-44, Droitwich 181-1 24 A, Fearnall 99, M. Davies 62*. Droitwich won by 9 wickets.

Feckenham 260-6 16 J. Stacey 68, D. Bloomer 67, Colwall 213-9 7. Feckenham winning draw.

Pedmore 180 a/o 3 J. Myers 4-66, Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 181-3 24 B. Morgan 64. Burghill won by 7 wickets.

Redditch 241-7 14 R. Chaudry 72*, Bewdley 231-6 9 R. Combes 105. Redditch winning draw.

Worcester 219-9 6, Stourport 220-7 24 R. Derrick 57. Stourport won by 3 wickets.

DIVISION TWO

Enville 159 a/o 24 J. Abell 5-56, Bromyard 155 a/o 5 Z. Saeed 69 - B. Peel 4-43, R. Parfitt 4-48. Enville won by 4 runs.

Bredon 205-8 5 M. Draper 55 - F. Maan 5-62, Evesham 206-5 24 A. Asghar 55*. Evesham won by 5 wickets.

Harborne 170-9 1 I. Mussadaq 5-55, Chaddesley Corbett 171-2 24 M. Sajid 90. Chaddesley won by 8 wickets.

Lye 217 a/o 6 T. Anwar 60 - C. Whyte 5-73, Coombs Wood 219-7 24 G. Abbas 56 - A. Naeem 6-62. Coombs Wood won by 3 wickets.

Old Vigornians 136 a/o 3 J. Hawk 50, Belbroughton 139-7 20 J. Hawk 5-25, R. Hawk 4-30. Belbroughton won by 3 wickets.

Oldswinford & Stour Social 228-6 16 D. Friel 67, H. Stanier 54, Wormelow 172-9 5 S. Alston 4-51. Oldswinford winning draw.

DIVISION THREE

Bartestree & Lugwardine 187 a/o 24 J. East 6-41, Five Ways Old Edwardians 115 a/o 4 R. Trattell 6-29. Bartestree won by 72 runs.

Kempsey 311-7 24 J. Jones 101, C. Jones 55, L. Ohren 53 - J. Hunter 4-78, Avoncroft 195 a/o 5 A. Baker 4-45, S. Winstanley 4-50. Kempsey won by 116 runs.

Malvern 173 a/o 24, Astwood Bank 75 a/o 4 J. Pilgrim 5-53. Malvern won by 98 runs.

Martley 315-8 24 T. Vale 128, A. Basford 102, Himbleton 231 a/o 7 S. Jenkins 95 - D. Johnson 5-26. Martley won by 84 runs.

Alvechurch & Hopwood 200-9 3 S. Howard 54*, Netherton 201-2 20 R. Oseland 91. Netherton won by 8 wickets.

Rushwick 267-6 13 J. Saunders 101, S. Parker 73, Himley 213-4 6 T, Wall 90, D. Taylor 67. Rushwick winning draw.

DIVISION FOUR

Bromsgrove 209-5 5 D. Collins 64*, Claverley 210-6 20 T. Grainger 52*. Claverley won by 4 wickets.

Hallow 135 a/o 2 T. Hutchins 5-37, Hanley Castle & Upton 136-6 20. Hanley Castle & Upton won by 4 wickets.

Old Elizabethans 207-6 4 D. Donaldson 92, H. Nicholls 58, Kidderminster 208-3 20 J. Williams 67. Kidderminster won by 7 wickets.

West Malvern 254 a/o 16 W. Lloyd 81, K. Gilberts 66 - K. Haycock 5-41, Stourport 228-9 10 E. Lockwood 103*. West Malvern winning draw.

Tenbury 218-9 24 A. Adams 113, Halesowen 147 a/o 4 T. Gloster 6-41. Tenbury won by 71 runs.

Alveley 218 a/o 24 A. Raza 4-23, Worcester 178 a/o 6 D. Robinson 85 - C. Hand 4-43. Alveley won by 40 runs.