ALVECHURCH & Hopwood’s promotion hopes in Worcestershire League Division Four were dented after a narrow two-wicket defeat at Five Ways Old Edwardians.
Skipper Matt Hayward smashed a century in the Church’s total of 221-5 off their 50 overs, but Old Eds got home with six balls to spare.
Alvechurch, now sit in fifth place and 36 points behind second-placed Worcester 2nds, face Bromsgrove 3rds at home on Saturday (1.00).
Having been put into bat at Old Eds, Hayward provided the impetus to the Alvechurch innings, with Deejay Bidden (23) and Nick Jones (25 not out) also contributing.
Old Eds opener Usmaan Mahmood led the reply with 64 and Jim Braddock added 38 but an unbeaten 31 from Sameer Khan edged them to their target.
Mark Woollatt, Mohamed Bhanji and Curtis Beach all took two wickets.
Opener James Lavender hit a half-century but Alvechurch Seconds went down to a four-wicket defeat at home to Burghill, Tillington and Weobley in Division Eight.
Lavender top-scored with 50, with three fours and three sixes, and 20 from skipper Jordan Rollins helped them to 135-7 off their 45 overs. John Lewis was the pick of the bowlers with 3-20.
Daniel Lodge (2-34) and Robert Ball (2-14) both took two wickers in the Burghill innings but Harry Sockett’s 53 steered towards their target and Rob Garrard (24no) got them home in the 37th over.
Alvechurch Seconds are away to Kempsey on Saturday (1.00).
Alvechurch Thirds consolidated their promotion place in Cotswold Hills League Division Seven after an 89-run win away to Lapworth 3rds.
Skipper Andrew Howard was the key figure in the second-placed visitors’ 151-6 with an unbeaten 53, with Mike Duggins adding 24.
Then Terry Rowlands produced a man-of-the-match show with five wickets for ten runs on nine overs to dismiss fourth-placed for 62 in 31.1 overs. Andrew Duggins chipped in with 2-19.
The Church now lie 19 points ahead of third-placed Bretforton Seconds and entertain Earlswood 5ths on Saturday (1.30).
