SWASHBUCKLING innings' from Ed Symonds and Alan Butterworth were highlights in Kington's winning draw with Herefordshire rivals Luctonians at Kingsland in a thrilling rain-hit Crusader Worcestershire County League Division 1 derby.

Former Herefordshire Minor Counties player Symonds was the Kington batting hero as he blasted an unbeaten 97 in a match reduced to 27 overs a side.

Symonds collected 14 boundaries in his breezy 69-ball innings and he was backed up by Wayne Morgan, who made 53 from 54 balls, and Australian all-rounder Shaun Johnston, 32 not out from 23 balls, in the visitors' impressive 210-4.

Luctonians' Australian all-rounder Butterworth received punishment in bagging 3-104 from 14 unchanged overs, but he then put Kington's bowlers to the sword.

Butterworth, who struck the ball with ferocious power, joined forces with skipper Duncan Platford in rescuing the innings after Luctonians had collapsed to 30-4.

Butterworth hammered a blistering undefeated 99 from just 49 deliveries and Platford made a composed unbeaten 45 as the home side rallied to reach 175-4.

Outstanding displays from Arshad and Shahid led Eastnor to an emphatic 108-run home victory over Pedmore.

Arshad made a stylish 91 not out as the home side reached a competitive 232-9, while Shahid then bagged 7-45 to skittle out Pedmore for just 124.

Bromyard's Pakistani all-rounder Zahid Saeed struck 62 against his former club Ombersley before heavy rain curtailed play.

Hereford City suffered a five-wicket defeat at Bewdley after being inserted on a damp pitch in a Division 2 clash reduced to 43 overs.

Hereford's new West Indian recruit Runel Agard was the key figure in the visitors' disappointing 118, making a stylish 55.

Agard and skipper Nick Denny (21) produced a fifth-wicket stand of 59 for Hereford, while seamer Mark Bennett (6-45) was a major influence in dismissing the visitors in the 25th over.

Although Agard then took 2-29, Bewdley paced their innings and cruised home in the 40th over.

Brockhampton dominated their clash with visiting Cookley but had to settle for a winning draw after failing to capture the final two wickets.

Stuart Jennings (58) and Nick Price (48) were the main contributors in Brockhampton's challenging 241-6 and then veteran seamer Roy Wargen grabbed 4-63 as the visitors stumbled to 135-8.

Meanwhile, Kington suffered a seven-wicket home reverse against a strong Walsall side in the second round of the ECB National Club Championship.

Eastnor recorded a seven-wicket away win over Feckenham in the first round of the National Village Championship.

Jim Sandford (5-22) and Faisal (3-27) helped to confine Feckenham to 148-9 and then Faisal (66 not out) and Jabran (51) led Eastnor to the target.