BARTESTREE and Lugwardine Cricket Club had a mixed start to their season on the opening weekend of fixtures, with their firsts picking up a narrow win over Burghill, and their seconds losing out in the reverse fixture five divisions below.

The first XI batted first after losing the toss, and fell to a disappointing 123-6 before the arrival of Marcus Ashcroft. Alongside Andy Jones (75), his 41 took B&L to 214-7, which they added four runs to in the remainder of the innings.

Burghill began well, with opener Clive Chadhani (50) and number three Luke Powell (77) elevated the visitors into good foundation.

A delightful slower ball from the experienced Tom Strangward broke the seal for Bartestree and started Burghill on a slippery slope from 138-1 to 208-9 after their 50 overs.

In the seconds match, Burghill got their revenge in equally as dramatic fashion, winning by just two runs.

Elsewhere in the Worcestershire leagues, Bromyard, Colwall and Brockhampton all fell to opening day defeats with the latter two out for 48 and 51 respectively.

Eastnor also fell for double figures chasing 177 against Netherton, and Brock’s second XO lost to Feckenham by seven wickets despite an admirable effort from Finley Morris.

In more successful news, Colwall seconds defeated Halesowen thirds after an outstanding individual performance from Tom Newman, who scored a whopping 125 out of 209 (60% of the team’s total) in a 42-run victory.