Ashton-under-Hill 221-6, Broadway 222-7.

JAMIE Powell was the hero for Broadway as his match-winning innings of 81 helped his side to victory over Ashton-under-Hill in their Cotswold Hills Premier Division clash.

With rain showers forecast, Broadway elected to field, with Nick Stewart (1-20 off 10) bowling Richard Cooper first ball. After slipping to 72-4, Jason Glazier dug in and David Turner rode his luck before the pair brought up the Ashton 100 after 32 overs.

With batsmen in the hutch and overs running out, the pair tore into the Broadway attack. Glazier (42) hit three sweet sixes while Turner (77 not out) found form and the boundary with some lusty blows. Powell (2-69) broke the 90-run partnership but the onslaught reaped 53 runs off his last four overs, Johnny Cooper crashing an amazing 26 runs off just seven balls.

Chasing 222 to win, Broadway started their reply with purpose. However, captain Will Archer (3-44) had both Gary Evans (5) and Andy Beale (0) caught behind by keeper Darren Haines.

At 28-3, Marcus Humpston (45) and Nigel Evans (42) put on 79 before they fell to Glazier’s off-spin.

Powell entered as the rain began to fall and Broadway still needing 120 runs to win.

Crashing the ball over the top and peppering the boundary, Powell turned the game on its head. His match-winning 81 came off just 47 balls. Although Archer removed Powell just 10 runs short of the target, Adam Smallman (16no) guided Broadway home with three wickets to spare.

Ashton-under-Hill seconds recorded their first victory of the season with a six-wicket home triumph against Dorridge and Hockley Heath.

Put in to bat, Dorridge were bowled out for 99, with Harry Williams’ slow left-arm spin taking 4-9 and Peter Andrews 3-33.

The game looked in the balance when Ashton lost four top-order wickets cheaply but David Wood (28no) and Jonathan Cook (39no) saw the hosts home.