A WELL-paced century by Martin Hill saw Bredon's climb to the top of Worcestershire Cricket League Division Two continue with an 87-run victory over Old Vigornians at New Road.

It saw him pass 500 runs for the season and helped his side maintain their lead over second-placed Evesham.

Hill made 151 not out in a total of 294-7, scoring 23 boundaries including four sixes in an innings that lasted 149 balls.

Bredon had struggled to begin with and slumped to 19-3 before Hill shared a stand of 112 for the fourth wicket with Tim McVicker (53).

Along with Tim Fenney (17) and Richard Bruce (29 not out) he added 108 in the final 10 overs of the innings.

Charlie Lamb was the pick of the OVs attack, taking 2-33 from his 10 overs and conceding no extras on a day when the rest of the bowlers were prone to bowling wides and no-balls.

Alex Barnes also picked up two wickets and their was another tidy spell of 1-42 from spinner Ed Burgoyne.

Osman Fiaz once again was the star for OVs and carried his bat for 109 not out off 117 balls.

After in-form Chris Drew made 30 on his return to the first XI the Worcester side were in a good position at 174-3 with 14 overs to go.

Instead of batting sensibly and taking advantage of a field which was spread the side panicked and started trying to smash every ball out of the ground, swinging aimlessly and mostly missing.

Tom Walsingham capitalised for Bredon and took 5-38 as OVs lost their last seven wickets for 43 runs in six overs.

A comprehensive five-wicket win by Bredon seconds saw them gain a 15-point advantage in the promotion battle at the top of Division Three over OVs.

OVs were put into bat on a good pitch and got off to a good start thanks to Andy Bell (36) and Tony Meek (24) who added 51 for the first wicket.

But from 87-2 in the 18th over they were tied down by a fine spell from the Bredon captain Felix Denton, who took 3-8 from seven overs, and collapsed to 113-8.

Skipper Phil Mackie (23) and teenagers Zain Hussain (22no) and Alex Lowe (12no) managed to add an air of respectability to the total and pick up three batting points on the way.

OVs finished on 178-9 but the match was already lost thanks to a period when the side only added 26 runs for six wickets in 14 overs.

They fought hard but it was an easy target for the powerful Bredon batsmen.

Mackie (2-35) and Hussain (1-39) gave them some hope when they reduced them to 131-5 but C Papirnic smashed 10 boundaries in an undefeated 48 to ease Bredon to victory.