A VIRTUOSO display of pacey left-arm swing from former Pakistan A player Zahid Saeed destroyed Hagley on Saturday and set up Bromyard for a comfortable eight-wicket win.

Hagley were put into bat on what looked like being one of the best batting wickets seen at Flaggoners Green for some time. They were soon in trouble as they lost experienced opener Charles Eades, bowled by Zahid for one, and left-handed number three James Trinham, bowled by a nip-backer from Pete Whittenbury for four. With their two most reliable batsmen back in the hutch, at 22-2, Hagley were immediately on the back foot. When their skipper Jeremy Trinham, fell lbw to Zahid for nine and was followed back by number four Goodwin, trapped in front by Whittenbury for two, the score became 26-4.

Bromyard's trusty opening attack did not release the pressure and after a couple of well-timed boundaries, Joe Lennon became the fifth wicket to fall, caught behind off Zahid for 12. Andy Hymer lasted just two overs before Zahid knocked him over for nought, and left-hander Shaw fell to the Pakistani paceman in the same fashion for another duck, leaving Hagley at 40-7.

Hagley's best partnership of the innings took the score to 54 but after a change of ends for Zahid, Shaw was then bowled by the left-armer for 11 and number ten Hambleton trapped plumb in front first ball. Last man Hill kept out the hat-trick ball, digging out a yorker but Zahid soon finished him off, castling him two balls later, leaving Hagley 56 all out in just 26 overs. Zahid had the superb figures of 13-4-8-20 and was well supported by Pete Whittenbury with 12-5-2-30.

With 74 overs left to accrue their target, Bromyard's openers were in no hurry and the score had progressed to 42 in the 20th over before Ash Bullock was bowled by a full-length delivery from off-spinner Jeremy Trinham, having made 14. Zahid, on the other hand, was intent on getting the game over with as quickly as possible. After trying to smash his first ball over the pavilion he only succeeded in edging high into the covers and made a swift exit.

Matt Bullock however had progressed with very few alarms and he saw Bromyard safely through with a chanceless knock of 41no including seven fours. Edd Oliver made 1no as Bromyard reached their target of 57 in the 25th over to win by eight wickets.

The result leaves Bromyard 49 points clear of nearest promotion challengers Coombs Wood but still 21 points behind league leaders Barnards Green.