STOURPORT continued their good start to the season with a one-wicket victory and 20 points over Old Vigornians in their County League Division Three match, which was reduced to 45 overs.

The Walshes Meadow club won the toss and put Old Vigornians in to bat, and they posted a total of 176-9 with batsman Fardon hitting 55.

Adam Sellick was the pick of the bowlers, striking four times in 16 overs for just 27 runs. Phil Williams also claimed four, for 39, as wickets fell steadily.

In reply Phil Williams made 36, Bevan Neill 32 and Dave Cook 28, but with three balls remaining Luke Martin hit the winning boundary.

Old Vigornians 176-9,

Stourport 180-9.

Stourport seconds also gained a one-wicket victory over Old Vigornians. Stourport put their hosts in to bat, and Old Vigornians made 186-9 in their 45 overs, Parry making 71 and Horton 53, with Kevin Hughes and John Downes each taking three wickets.

In reply Brian Colley scored 39 and Eddie Giles 38 in a solid opening stand. Once the openers were out wickets began to fall dramatically and the required run rate increased until Andy Goddard smashed 30 off 13 balls.

Seven runs were needed off the final over, and Goddard was run out, leaving Downes to hit the winning two runs off the last ball.

Old Vigornians 186-9

Stourport 187-9.

Fixtures, Saturday: Oldswinford v Stourport, Stourport 2nds v Oldswinford (both 1.30pm).

Cookley

Cookley seconds recorded their first victory of the season in the County League when they won off the last ball of their game at home to Hagley in Division Two.

But it really should have been a double with the first team seemingly cruising towards their target of 212 at Hagley with over 100 on the board for the loss of just one wicket before the now customary collapse took place and the side had to hang on for a losing draw with eight wickets down.

Opener Paul Harris had put the visitors on the road to victory with a forceful 61 but a mix-up between John Martin and Kiwi John Blakely saw Martin run out and the rot set in after then.

Hagley 1st 211-9

Cookley 1st 167-8.

It was a different story at Lea Lane though with the second team looking to have too much to do to match Hagley's 246-8 with Steve Crane falling one short of his century.

Phil Dixon gave Cookley a solid start with 69 but after he was run out Alan Pestridge (58) took on the anchor role.

The arrival of Martin Williams though changed the game when he blasted a quick-fire 51 to give Cookley a fighting chance.

When the last over arrived Cookley still needed seven for victory and the scores were level with just one ball to go.

Captain Paul Cartwright was on strike and despite playing and missing, Simon "Bart" Anderson at the non-striker's end managed to run a bye to the wicketkeeper to give Cookley their first win and lift them to third from bottom.

Hagley 2nd 246-8

Cookley 2nd 247-8.

Bewdley

Bewdley hosted their Division One fixture against Eastnor, but ended up with a losing draw.

Bewdley put the visitors in to bat and openers Adeel and Jabran survived lively opening spells from Robert Combes and Tom Baylis, most of their boundaries coming off the edge.

A break for rain cost each side one over before Bewdley gained their first success at 82. With the score at 123-1 Eastnor seemed well on their way to a big score, but Bewdley spinners Simon Mauger 4-46 and Jo Boult 3-60 brought about a collapse to 124-4, aided by a much better fielding performance than of late.

There were two run outs and Combes held three catches. He also missed two difficult chances.

Eastnor reached four batting points before being dismissed in the final over.

With many regulars missing, captain Ben Jones opened the batting for Bewdley with Boult, the latter falling lbw for eight. Jones's lack of form showed as he struggled to score five before being bowled in the 16th over.

Paul Beard joined Mauger for a useful stand before Beard took one risk too many and was run out by a direct hit. Combes and Mauger (54) took the score to 125-5 but efforts to move the score along to get batting points led to a collapse to 126-9.

Mike Harris and Mark Hudson stood firm, taking Bewdley to 155-9 and a second batting point.

Eastnor 202, Bewdley 155-9.

lIt was a similar story for Bewdley 2nds, also playing to a losing draw at Eastnor.

The hosts punished Bewdley's attack, amassing 282-4. The bowlers were not helped by a poor fielding performance, which saw several crucial catches dropped.

The unbeaten fifth wicket pair of Graves 100no and 14-year-old Emery 95no put on 180 runs for Eastnor before the innings closed.

Bewdley's reply soon got into trouble, as Andy Robinson and David Jones went cheaply. Then David Meek 32 and Dean Wilkes 21 gave the score some respectability, but Bewdley looked in danger of defeat at 125-5 with 15 overs left.

Then youngsters Richie Harris 31no and Ben Jones 17no saved the day with an unbroken partnership of 43.

Eastnor 282-4

Bewdley 2nd 168-6.

Bewdley Cavaliers were outclassed and swiftly beaten by a more mature Stourbridge Social team in their County League Division Four encounter.

Batting first, only captain Dave Cowdery and young Callum Wilson put up much resistance for Bewdley, with 16 and 20 respectively, Wilson showing much promise.

The visitors hit off the runs in 13 overs, Andy Singleton gaining the only Bewdley success with a catch.

Bewdley Cavaliers 80

Stourbridge Social 81-1.

Fixtures for Saturday: Droitwich Spa v Bewdley 1sts, Bewdley 2nds v Droitwich Spa, Chaddesley Corbett v Cavaliers (all 1.30pm).

Sunday: Bewdley v Evesham, Evesham v Bewdley 2nds (both 2pm).

Tuesday: Bewdley U-14s v Old Elizabethans.

Kidderminster Victoria

Kidderminster Victoria secondsl had little answer to Pedmore in their County League Division Two fixture, being beaten by 188 runs.

Pedmore amassed 251-6 in 46 overs, the young bowlers having problems until Tony Burkes and Robert Webb came on to take wickets.

In reply, KVCC were bowled out for 63 in 30 overs and Pedmore took 24 points to KVCC's two.

Pedmore 251-6, KVCC 2nd Xl 63.

A young KVCC first team claimed a second successive County League Division Two win with success at Pedmore on Saturday.

Stand-in skipper Dave Mitchell won the toss and fielded, only to see the home side get off to a flying start by putting on 60 for the first wicket inside 12 overs.

But Dave Bannister and McAllister removed both openers in quick succession and the run rate soon slowed down.

Aussie McAlister went on to bowl a tremendous spell, claiming 6 for 56 to reduce the home side to 188 all out.

Deploying such a young team meant Kidderminster's fielding was excellent, highlighted by three catches from Steve Bilboe, one a stunning effort in the gully.

In response, Kidderminster were always on target with Alex Roden (46) playing the anchor role supporting aggressive contributions from Paul Edwards (49) and James Manley 38 not out.

Kyle McAllister celebrated a great individual and team performance by hitting a massive six on to roof of a local house for the winning runs.

In Division Six, KVCC thirds made 190 for 8 to beat Stourbridge Social who were 108 all out.

Batting first, only Ian Sadler 31, Kevin Amos 37 and James Rine 48 managed to trouble the bowlers finishing with 190 for 8.

In reply, Kevin Amos took the wickets of both openers in the fourth over and, combined with Lee Daniels' tight line from the other end, gave KVCC a stranglehold on the game.

Amrik Singh 2-35 and Dan Webb 6-35 continued with excellent bowling and finished off the opposition for 108 all out.

There was an excellent all round performance especially in the field where Glyn Thomas 2, Kevin Amos and James Rine took superb catches.

Chainwire

Despite Gareth Bryant taking 7-30 for Stone, Chainwire ran out winners of their County League Division Five match by 79 runs.

They were indebted to Stephen James (5-23) and Mark Meese (4-15) for bowling out the opposition for just 65 runs.

Chainwire found batting difficult, Trevor Paddock top scoring with 39 as Bryant's superb spell of bowling, supported by Phil Durnell 1-19, reduced Chainwire to 77-7. Then an eighth wicket stand of 54 between James (36no) and Steve Breakwell (31) lifted them to 144-9.

In reply, Stone's captain and opener, John Morley, went on the first ball of the innings, caught behind off Sam Beasley.

Stone never recovered, with only two batsmen making double figures, and were bowled out for 54. Meese and man-of-the-match James did the most damage, giving Chainwire 24 points to Stone's four.

Chainwire 144-9, Stone 65.

Cutnall Green

Cutnall Green enjoyed two victories in the County Cricket League Division Four against Hanley Castle.

The first team won by 136 runs, and the second team thrashed their visitors by nine wickets.

Results

Division One first teams: Eastnor 202, Bewdley 155-9; Chaddesley Corbett 271-7, Ombersley 264-9.

Division One second teams: Ombersley 302-4, Chaddesley Corbett 87; Eastnor 282-4, Bewdley 168-6.

Division Two first teams: Hagley 211-9, Cookley 167-8; Pedmore 188, KVCC 189-6.

Division Two second teams: Hagley 246-8, Cookley 247-5; Pedmore 251-6, KVCC 63.

Division Three first teams: Old Vigornians 176-9, Stourport 180-9/

Division Three second teams: Old Vigornians 186-9, Stourport 187-9.

Division Four first teams: Cutnall Green 272-8, Hanley Castle & Upton 136.

Division Four second teams: Hanley Castle & Upton 104, Cutnall Green 105-1.

Division Five: Barnards Green 245-6, Cleobury 141; Chainwire 144-9, Stone 65.

Division Six: Brintons 210-5, Barnards Green 153; KVCC 190-8, Stourbridge Social 108.

Division Seven: Bewdley 80, Stourbridge 81-1; Chaddesley Corbett 155, Worcester 118-3.