AT last cricket for the Millennium! After an early start in April, spoilt by the rain and extra teams in the Worcester County League, Eastnor got under way with a fine 40 run victory over Lye, relegated from Division One last year.

On a slow wicket Eastnor started well as Nick Bollen (30) and Keith Fortey (21) put on 48 runs for the first wicket in just eight overs. The introduction of D Borley and M Borley then slowed down the villagers' style. D Borley claiming the top five Eastnor order in the next 27overs, after new skipper Ferreira (18) and Asif (14) had taken the total on to 121.

Zubair (27) in his first match for the club batted on slowly but surely and with help from extras, (11) from Nick Hitchings and a tail that wagged sympathetically but stoically the visitors finished respectively on 182 after a long 50 overs. D Barley (5-51) and Khaleeq (4-32) the pick of the home side bowlers.

In reply the villagers began well, Nick Hitchings bowling Benson at 13. A remarkable Dave Entwistle catch off Harris sent back Webster for 12 at 40 I the eighth over and both opening bowlers claimed further wickets to see the home side to 46-4 after a further four overs.

Tonks (34) led a fight back but after 20 overs Arshad was introduced into the attack, claiming two wickets in 20 overs for 63-6. Little joined Tonks in a mini-revival as 59 runs came in the next 17 over before the ever tireless Hitchings fought back again, aided by a skippers' catch the Lye side fell to 117-8 with 12 overs remaining.

Ferreira bowled four overs to give Arshad (3-19) a well deserved break whilst Hitchings continued his long controlled spell. 141 runs were on the board with just three overs to go when Hitchings had his final reward - the prize of Tonks and then M Borley next ball to finish on 5-60 and a hat-trick ball next week.

Arshad (3-19) also had bowled well for a fine Eastnor victory. Skipper Christian Ferreira has had a dream start in his first match for the club.

NEWENT v EASTNOR 3rd XI

SIXTEEN points for Eastnor 3rd XI in their first H & DCL encounter of the year - in a re-arranged game at the wonderful Three Ashes pitch when the normal Saturday school ground was unavailable.

Eastnor elected to field with veteran Dean Vicarage and newcomer Neil Davies bowling tightly. Taylor (23) batted solidly for the home side in an opening stand of 26 before Woolley fell to Davies in the 14th over. Taylor succumbed at 31 to the same bowler in the 18th over when the young Tom Hurrell and the spin of Davy Jones took over. Tom Hurrell bowling under the guidelines of the E & WCB and the eyes of his mentors yielded just 12 runs from his 6 overs whilst Jones's spin reduced the home side to 69-6, finishing with figures of 4-19 from his allotted 10 overs. Good bowling from skipper Taylor (1-9 from 10 overs) held the home side to 86-7 as Chris Ferreira gained a valuable point by bowling Newent captain Dave Richards on the final ball of the innings.

In reply Matt Panter fell to young spinner Wilkinson at 11 in the sixth over, whilst Keith Fortey led the way towards the Eastnor win. Martin Lane only scored two runs in a 19 run partnership before being caught, as Panter was by an alert Newent wicket keeper. Ali Barnes (11) kept runs flowing with Fortey (44) to take the total on to 63 in the 18th over when a 3rd XI as usual mini-disaster took place with wickets falling. Experience again came to the fore as Christian Ferreira (17) and Dean Vicarage led Eastnor home in the 23rd over. Markovecci (1-12) and Mortimer (2-13) had bowled well for Newent but Eastnor had won.

A good day for young and old alike, the spirit of cricket is still alive.