DROITWICH Spa Cricket Club's First XI showed they are in good form for the start of the new cricket season after a 69-run friendly victory at Redditch on Sunday.

With the 2002 campaign still a couple of weeks away, Spa batted first in a 45 over contest.

The visitors made a cautious start from Mike Gunston and Paul Bryan before both grew in confidence with Bryan making 37 in an opening stand of 70.

But Gunston's knock proved the backbone of the innings before he was bowled for an excellent 71.

The remaining batsmen all chipped in with skipper Ian Duggan hitting a breezy 30 as the innings closed at 200-9.

Redditch started their innings like a steam train with opener Stokes being very positive against the seam attack of Goddard and Small.

A change of pace though put the brakes on through Gunston and particularly Woodward, who bowled an excellent line with the game in the balance.

Duggan decided to turn his arm and then proceeded to take five wickets with his off spinners.

Redditch then collapsed like a pack of cards to see Spa home easily with eight overs remaining.