CURTIS Beach steered Alvechurch & Hopwood to a five-wicket win at home to Astwood Bank 3rds with an unbeaten half-century.
Beach guided the Church to victory in the 42nd over after a four-wicket haul from James Beech had helped bowl out Bank for 185-9 in their Worcestershire League Division Four fixture.
Bank batted first and Clare Boycott (40 not out), George Ross (34) and Will Windeatt (32) were the key contributors. Beech finished with 4-36 off his ten overs and Beach 2-20, with a wicket apiece for Dan Wolstencroft, Peter Shore and Henry Cox.
Alvechurch were some way short of their target after Beech (4), Deejay Bidden (25), Adam Markham-Jones (14) and Simon Bowron (12) all fell but Beach (51no) and David Fleming (35no) were the heroes with an unbeaten stand to take them home at 187-5.
Alvechurch, who sit fourth in the standings, travel to Stourport 2nds on Saturday.
Alvechurch Thirds fell to a 106-run defeat at home to Elmley Castle in Division Seven.
Batting first, Elmley Castle reached 235-6 as Reuben Kite (2-47) and Dan Patterson (2-25) led the bowling.
But Alvechurch’s batters were always behind the run rate as they finished on 129-9, with Richard Adams (31no) and Mark Saunders (29) the top scorers.
Alvechurch go to The Lenches 2nds on Saturday while the Seconds, who had no game last week, are at home to Birlingham in Division Eight.
