Bromyard gained their third successive WCL division two nine-wicket victory and their sixth win in a row at Harborne on Saturday.

After inserting the home side, wickets were hard to come by in the early stages on a slow, low wicket that offered little resistance to the bowlers. However, with the score at 35 Harborne lost their first wicket, J McKay well held at slip by Matt Bullock off the bowling of Zahid Saeed for 14.

Peter Whittenbury soon followed up by trapping D Law lbw for one to make it 36-2, but from there Harborne fought back and the game was evenly balanced at the halfway stage of the innings.

However, James Hine bowled Harborne skipper Ian Powick for 25 and the introduction of Ben Ford slowed Harborne's run rate further. He bowled E Hirji for 11 and then gained the important wicket of left-hander M James, who batted well for 60 before top-edging a slog-sweep and being well held by stand-in wicket- keeper Whittenbury.

An outstanding caught and bowled from Ford removed L Georgson for 20 and none of the rest of the Harborne batsmen reached double figures as Ford ran through the tail to pick up 5-41 from 16 overs and also played his part in two run outs. Harborne finished their 50 overs 181 all out, a total perhaps 50 runs under par on a good wicket and a small ground.

In reply, Bromyard had few alarms, Matt Bullock playing some forceful off-drives in making 24 off 30 balls before chipping a catch to cover with the score at 42.

New batsman Zahid took his time to get in but once he had settled the Pakistan A all-rounder regularly crashed the ball through the off-side and looked in little trouble. Ash Bullock meanwhile once again played the anchor role to good effect and the two saw Bromyard through to their target after 41 overs with a second wicket stand of 143. Zahid hit the winning runs to finish on 82no from 83 balls, with 16 fours and a six, and Ash Bullock making 45no off 103 balls, with five fours and a five.

The win leaves Bromyard 27 points clear of this week's opponents, Barnards Green and 56 clear of third-placed Netherton with just four games of the season remaining.

The second XI meanwhile went down to a two-wicket defeat at home to Harborne seconds.

Bromyard were all out for 136, with Brian Pursall making 37 and Mike Wilesmith with 36 being the only significant contributors and S Ahmed picking up 4-52 for the visitors.

Bromyard fought hard with Dan Mills taking 5-58 and Dave Harris picking up 2-40. However, Harborne reached their target in the 42nd over to condemn the seconds to their 11th defeat of the season and lever them just eight points above basement-side Cookley.