Champions left reeling after last-ball reverse

2:30pm Wednesday 21st May 2008

FOR the first time this season, the weather played a huge role in last Saturday's John Shepherd Cotswold Hills League programme when lots of matches were affected by the afternoon's showers.

Champions Bretforton were the chief casualties as they lost on the last ball at home to Earlswood and that after they had blasted 266-4 off their 45 overs.

Two early wickets put the visitors into the driving seat on a damp pitch but Brett Woods and Stuart Berry steadied the ship when adding 49.

Berry was in fine form and, when he was joined by Paul Jones with the scoreboard reading 79-4, the pendulum swung emphatically in Bretforton's favour.

Unbroken The pair added an unbroken stand of 187 with Jones reaching three figures in the final over - an innings of 105 that included five 4s and the same number of 6s and lasted just 73 balls.

Berry was left four runs short of his century after a 128-ball knock that left his side firmly in the driving seat. However, rain interruptions left Earlswood needing 148 off 25 overs but had a bad start when Craig Griffiths struck two early blows.

Skipper Will Windeatt started a recovery that was taken on by Clements and Everitt and it was the former who produced the vital innings of 63 at better than a run a ball despite Jones taking six wickets.

Alex Evans took a fine catch to remove Clements and the chasers needed three off the final over for victory that became three off the last ball. And, it was Ashworth who was the hero with a slash over slips for the winning boundary.

The Premier Division is topped by Kineton whose game like that of Stratford Bards and the one at Overbury was abandoned.

Exhall and Wixford were the side to benefit and the 2007 runners-up moved menacingly into third spot after a successful pursuit of a revised target at Wellesbourne.

Moreton-in-Marsh made it three wins out of three in the first division after chasing a revised target after Bidford had totalled an impressive 196-3.

Catherine-de-Barnes moved up to third six points adrift of the leaders after an eight-wicket win at Leamington.

Elmley Castle are up to fourth after a five-wicket win at home to Broadway, while Alcester and Ragley were the other winners in this section.

Warwick CC Staff also registered a third straight win by six runs in a high scoring clash at Winchcombe who totalled 250-7 in pursuit of 257 for victory.

The winners lead Shipston by two points with Chipping Campden in third after the pair's contest was another early finisher.

Claverdon defeated Kenilworth Wardens by 97 runs but the 21 points gained weren't enough to overhaul third division leaders Blockley whose home game with Overbury was another victim of the weather.

Bretforton's six-wicket win at Earlswood in Division Four was a third straight win and left them two points clear of Alcester and Ragley who overcame Norton Lindsey.

Defeating Leek Wootton had two wickets to spare in defeating Ashton to stay top of Division Five 12 points clear of Alvechurch.

Four of the five matches in Division Six beat the rain and the top three are separated by five points with Catherine-de-Barnes on top after easily overcoming Harvington.

Welford were even easier winners over Dorridge and Hockley Heath and they are three points off the top and two clear of Bidford who won by six wickets at Mickleton.

The other winners were Earlswood thirds who overcame their Exhall counterparts by three wickets.

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