SHIPSTON-on-Stour seconds moved out of the Cotswold Hills League Division Three bottom two with a six-run win over Leek Wootton.

After four defeats, they finally won their first game of the season after dismissing the visitors for 142 in reply to 148-9.

It was an unexpected but thrilling success as Leek Wootton lost their last four wickets for just three runs.

Shipston’s batting was fragile but skipper Andrew Righton (26) showed resilience with Phil Hall (22).

Then, at 72-7 in the 23rd over, Matthew Pratt (36 not out) and Joe Godson (21) rebuilt the innings with an eighth-wicket partnership of 63 runs.

Marcus Davies and Pratt (2-22) took two early wickets each in reply before Roger Wickson (1-31) claimed a key dismissal to make it 46-5.

Leek Wootton grafted to 115 before Jamie Shurmer held a slip catch off the bowling of his father Kevin.

But their Warwickshire rivals were sailing to victory on 138-6 at the end of the 41st over only for a clutch of wickets to halt them.

Kevin Shurmer (2-36) swooped with a fine yorker and then crucially Couchman was run out for a fine 62.

With just seven runs needed from the last 12 balls, Davies (4-22) forced a catch and bowled the final man to complete an unlikely win.

  • Bourton Vale suffered a third West of England Premier League Gloucester Division defeat of the season.

Adam Millard took 4-43 but visitors Corse and Staunton’s 221-8 from 50 overs proved too much.

Opener Jack Galpin (22) and Sam Arthurs (42) were the mainstays of Vale’s 160 all out in reply.

Skipper Greg Shepherd scored 59 runs for the seconds who lost by six wickets to the same club.

  • Cricklade took over at the top of Cotswold District Association League Division One after thrashing NATs by nine wickets.

The Notgrove outfit were dismissed for 157 with Will Spence (39) and Andrew Phillips (36) top scoring.

Cricklade reached their target within 36 overs.

Chris Heaps scored 62no for Stow-on-the-Wold in an eight-wicket victory at Oakridge who were restricted to 114-9 from 40 overs.

Jack Robson took 3-21 and Hayden Elsdale 3-24.

Mid-table Adlestrop edged out Williamstrip by two wickets thanks to opener Adrian Vale’s 42no and 5-35 from Jamie Parker.

  • Slaughters Utd lead Gloucestershire League Division Three after beating Cirencester seconds by 46 runs.

Openers Phillip Chapple (57) and Wayne Rose (52) starred in their 187-5.