MARTLEY seconds eased their relegation worries with a 34-run home win against Himley in Worcestershire League Second XI Division Four.

Rich Birchley (38) and Ash Jones (28) put on 82 for the first Martley wicket and Shahnawaz Shamim hit 34.

However, at 160-7 there was a danger of under-achievement from the home batting line-up.

Pete Gardner smacked 57, including five fours and three sixes, and with Tom Clement contributing 20, they put on 75 for a total of 235-7.

Gardner also bowled a frugal spell with the ball with 2-23 off eight overs and Si Butler gave little away with 1-16 off seven as Himley ended on 201-7.

But there was disappointment for Worcester’s Old Vigornians seconds, who slipped to a four-wicket home defeat against Five Ways Old Edwardians in Division Three.

Having been put into bat, OVs’ big guns were quickly silenced by good, accurate bowling, supported by excellent fielding.

After slumping to 49-5 and then 95-7, captain Phil Mackie (43) marshalled the tail and, with good contributions from Tim Race (23) and James Hayward-Meek (19), the Worcester side achieved a degree of respectability with a total of 157.

James East was the pick of the visiting attack, finishing with figures of 2-22 and also a spectacular one-handed catch to remove Alex Barnes for 11.

The total was never likely to be enough to test the Birmingham side, who were five places higher than OVs.

Despite excellent spells from all of the OVs bowlers, things did not go their way.

Batsmen survived loud appeals and edges flew past the fielders or just past the stumps. The contest appeared tight when Five Ways reached 115-6, but Ian Wingfield, who had earlier picked up 3-31, saw the visitors home with an undefeated 30.

Race and Hayward-Meek picked up two wickets apiece, while the economical Riz Ashraf conceded just 20 runs in a 10-over spell.