Eastnor Thirds' last league match of the season ended in a one-wicket win over local rivals Ledbury Seconds in this Flint & Cook Marches Division 5A game.

EASTNOR III v LEDBURY II

Eastnor captain John Taylor finally won a toss and invited Ledbury to bat on a damp green wicket which brought early success as Martin Lane was caught by Andy Davies off Marc Wildig in the fourth over with the score on four.

Rob Yeomans and Steve Evans added 25 runs before Nick Haggar struck back for the villagers, aided by two good catches from Adam McTear and a safe catch by Adam Reynolds to dismiss Ehrlich on 37-4.

Yeomans in his inevitable style stubbornly battled on, but the run out of Watkins and two late wickets for Rod Jarrett sent Ledbury to 51-7 in the 32nd over.

Clive Jones joined Yeomans to add 27 runs when the reintroduction of Cliff Tipton and Marc Wildig finished the innings on 79. Wildig and Haggar took three wickets apiece whilst Jarrett (two wickets) and Tipton all bowled economically.

Eastnor's reply started disastrously as Ralph Tyler was run out in the second over and Tipton fell to Watkins in the third.

Goodman was brilliantly caught by Orders off his own bowling and Simon Watkins claimed McTear and Watkins in the seventh over to leave Eastnor facing defeat at 17-5.

Marti Lane hit a swift seven but fell to a good boundary catch at 25-6. Skipper Taylor and Nick Haggar then began a much-needed fight back, slowly adding 31 runs to take Eastnor closer to home. Haggar fell to Orders for 11.

Rod Jarrett hit six runs before being caught. Taylor and Marc Wildig continued on to 73 when Taylor misjudged a ball from Jones and was bowled. Wildig batted on well for his unbeaten nine, leaving Reynolds to score the winning run in the 25th over.

Watkins and Orders both claimed three wickets in this exciting game.