ALVECHURCH & Hopwood produced a real team effort to defeat Claverley and move into top spot in Worcestershire League Division Three.
John Pinsent top scored with 49 as Alvechurch scored 220-8 in their 50 overs.
Then all five bowlers called on took wickets to dismiss the Shropshire hosts for 163 to hand the visitors a 57-run victory.
The 20-point haul meant they leapfrogged Himbleton to go three points clear at the top of the standings.
Having been put into bat, Alvechurch wickets fell at regular intervals as batsmen got starts but were unable to go on to big scores.
Pinsent was left one short of his half-century as a vital seventh wicket stand with Dan Wolstencroft (35) steered the visitors past 200 and gave them a total to defend. Simon Taylor (3-30) was Claverley’s best bowler.
In reply, the hosts had a steady start through openers Tom Grainger (22) and John Pearsall (24) but once they departed the Alvechurch bowlers found their range.
Ryan Mills (34) kept Claverley in the hunt but Ivan Burgess (2-23), Christian Battelley (2-27), Devavrat Desai (2-25), and Wolstencroft (2-48) all took two wickets, while Pinsent completed a successful day personally by clean bowling one batsman.
On Saturday Alvechurch welcome third placed Bartestree & Lugwardine to Birmingham Road.
