STANWAY Boxmen closed the gap in the Worcestershire Cricket Board Indoor League South East Division in Evesham but Dumbleton boast the best batting average.

Having played fewer games, Stanway needed to win well to put themselves back into contention for the title.

They just about won but a poor start left them 13 runs per wicket worse than Dumbleton who they meet in the last match and worse than Ashton with more points.

Prince Henry's batting proved brittle again, losing all their wickets by missing the ball.

Though Robbie Hardwick (20) got some runs again, Prince Henry's hero was Alex Oliver who consistently steered the ball wide of mid-on round the angles for three and ended with a merited half-century.

All Stanway had to do was surpass the below-par target of 89 all out without losing many wickets.

But they lost three wickets in the first two overs, scrambling to 37-4 after eight overs and looking more likely to lose than win.

Stanway's saviours in the reply of 90-5 were Mike Banks (18) and Aaron Batchelor (24 not out).

The scores were level with one ball remaining called a wide.

The first match proved a fairly stress-free workout for the 2017 league champions Alcester and Ragley who will forfeit their crown this year.

Ben Lee (26no), Adam Warbrick (38no), Brad Jeffries (26no) and Ollie Swinburn (26no) all got runs in Alcester's 135-1.

Childswickham's Rhys John (31no) and James Hands (25no) were the main contributors in their 99-3 which ended in a 36-run loss.

Following the completion of the league fixtures the teams go into a cup with the final on March 20.