WITH three games remaining Bartestree & Lugwardine took top spot in the Worcestershire County League Division Two.

However, a trip to mid-table Oldswinford almost became a nightmare after the Herefordshire hopefuls were skittled out for 125.

Opener Matt Tulacz started with a steady 25, but as batters fell around him the hosts were left shellshocked at 60-5 on his departure.

However, a partnership of 60 between Russell Barnett (23) and Adam Davies (32) turned into a vital one as they helped Bartestree to a vulnerable target of 125 all out off 38.4 overs.

With the ball Marcus Ashcroft (4-24) took three quick wickets to give Bartestree belief of a remarkable victory.

Stan Lunt kept the wickets falling (2-20), but at 100-8 the visitors looked still in the driving seat for victory.

That was until David Webb stepped up and with his spin bowling he caught and bowled James Baker before Adam Davies ran out the final wicket to complete a valuable 14-run win.

Burghill, Tillington and Weobley remain on course for a high finish in Division One after taking a convincing nine-wicket win at Coombs Wood.

From the outset, the Auckland bowler Ben Hawkes found the right line and length for the conditions.  He bowled straight and fast and had the home team reeling at 45-5.  

His fifer (5 for 22 off 10) included three clean bowled. It was classic seam bowling, utilising the conditions to the full.

Coombs Wood never fully recovered and rhe home team finished on 148 all out from 43.4 overs.

Teenage spinner AJ Morris continues to bowl with impeccable accuracy and finished with 2-28 off 8.4 overs.  Mohammed Hassan was miserly as ever in his spell of 1 for 21 off 8 overs.

Rhodri Jones, aged 16, was making his second appearance for the firsts this season.  He opened the batting with Owen Morgan and together they quickly took the score to 85 without taking any unnecessary risks.

Then against the run of play, Morgan was bowled for 32, which included five exquisite boundaries.  

Another 16 year-old talent, Theo Darke joined Jones and the crease and together they saw Burghill home in 29.4 overs for a nine wicket win.

Jones finished on an unbeaten 79 off 92 balls with 13 fours and 2 maximums at the end.

The win lifted Burghill two places into fifth and they entertain Hagley at Brick House Farm on Saturday.

In the Premier Division it was another weekend to forget for the Herefordshire sides as Brockhampton and Bromyard both suffered defeats.

Stourbridge set Brockhampton a big target of 288-5 and they fell 117 runs short with Jamie Burgess top scoring with 77.

Meanwhile, Bromyard were bowled out for 83 and were beaten by five wickets at Pershore.