MARTYN Davies shone with both bat and ball to inspire Droitwich Spa to an 86-run victory against fourth-placed Bromyard.

The result reduces the margin between the two sides to just seven points in Worcestershire Cricket League Division Two.

Batting first, a Spa victory initially appeared unlikely as the hosts' top order was blown away by a high-class new-ball spell by South African Josh Van Rensburg.

He sent Max Young and brothers Stuart and Paul Bryan back to the pavilion for ducks with just eight runs on the scoreboard.

At 31-4 and with opening bat Davies hampered by an ankle injury, the visitors certainly looked the more likely victors.

Spa’s skipper Ian Cottrill then brought a measured approach to the crease as the pair rebuilt the innings in style.

The experienced duo added a crucial 159 runs before Davies holed out for 100 from 123 balls with 18 fours.

Cottrill soon followed for a fine 76 but useful lower-order contributions from Jack Eaton (25) and Carl Thomson (25) completed the recovery with 259-7 posted.

Droitwich made a breakthrough with the first ball of the Bromyard innings as captain Edd Oliver was dismissed by Young who also claimed the key wicket of the dangerous Zahid Saeed.

Davies took centre stage again in a spell of 5-46 as his slow left-arm drifters ran through the visitors’ middle order.

A sharp caught and bowled removed van Rensburg for 33 and with that the Herefordshire side’s victory chances.

Ben Whittenbury (51) provided tail-end resistance as Bromyard dug in for the losing draw. 

With overs running out, Cottrill turned to spinner Dave Stephens for his second spell and the veteran took the final wicket to seal Spa’s win with 15 balls to spare.

Spa’s seconds will be glad they won’t have to face Stourport batsman Spencer Colley again this season.

He followed up his 76 earlier in the summer with 126 not out to help his side to a commanding nine-wicket win.

Captain Karl Goddard hit 50no in the Droitwich score of 174-7 which Colley made light work of as Stourport overhauled inside 28 overs.

The thirds lost by six wickets to champions-elect Highley in Division Five while the fourths’ last-wicket pair clung on for a losing draw in their final fixture in Division Seven at Worcester where Daud Ali hit 136 for the hosts.

On Sunday, a composed 40-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Stuart Bryan (37) and Josh Sinclair (21) guided Droitwich to a three-wicket win over Barnards Green with five balls to spare.

This weekend sees Saturday league action for the firsts at Wormelow while the seconds welcome Worcester Nomads and the thirds make the short journey to Cutnall Green.

On Sunday, the club host their annual six-a-side cricket tournament with the bar open and refreshments served from mid-morning onwards.