CUP rivals Astwood Bank and Exhall & Wixford can turn their attentions to the league after the pair crashed out of the National Village Knockout Cup.

Bank suffered a hefty defeat at the hands of Worcestershire Division One rivals Chaddesley Corbett while north Warwickshire side Ansley accounted for Exhall. Astwood Bank had no answer to their free-scoring hosts while the absence of a number of key players did not help their cause.

Batting first, Chaddesley amassed a total of 266-8 from their 40 overs with opener Ian Chambers scoring half the runs. But visiting skipper Dan Evans admitted it could have been worse.

"At one stage they were on 121-0," he explained. "One of their guys got in and bullied us. We finally got him out for 133 but by that time he had set up a good platform for the side.

"We had to score at nearly seven an over and although we were doing OK at one stage, we lost wickets at crucial times.

"Everyone contributed but we lacked that person who could add that big score.

"It has been a good effort to reach the area final again but now we just have to concentrate on the league."

Bank finished well short of their target, being all out for 187.

Paul Boycott led the scoring with a useful knock of 35.

Exhall & Wixford were beaten by 74 runs in their area final clash with visitors Ansley.

And they were another side to be undone by an in-form batsman, the visitors' Waqar Sayed scorching a 61-ball century to give the visitors an imposing total of 291-4.

If a swirling catch could have been taken with Sayed on around 30, things could have been much different for the former Lords finalists and Exhall's valiant attempt in front of a large and expectant crowd ended well short.

After losing four of the top order with just 30 on the board it was always an uphill struggle.

The lower order received some much needed batting practice, with some fine hitting by Lee Chambers (48), Leon Gates (35) and Andy Marsh (31).

Opener Matt Gwynn (45) also made a useful contribution.

Syd Keen was the pick of the Exhall bowlers, taking 1-33 off his nine overs.