Bromyard maintained their position at the head of the Worcestershire County League division two with their first ever win at Netherton.

BROMYARD v NETHERTON

The Black Country side predictably chose to put Bromyard in and there were early signs of life in the pitch, with some unpredictable bounce, which continued for the duration of the match.

However Ashley Bullock and fill-in opener Dave Scorer negotiated some fiery opening overs from left-arm paceman Matthew Jeavons and his younger brother Danny and the score had reached 49 in the 13th over before Scorer gloved a ball from the elder Jeavons through to the wicket-keeper, having made 14.

The introduction of Tony Abbott brought a wicket with his first ball, Ash Bullock trickling a ball down the leg-side and begin caught behind for 29.

Zahid Saeed (11) played a couple of strong extra cover drives before another ball from Abbott nipped off a length to give Netherton's keeper Paul Harris a third catch, to make it 88-3.

This pattern continued throughout the innings as Bromyard lost wickets when they were just about to take control; Pete Whittenbury making 24, Edd Oliver 50 with seven fours and a five before chipping a full toss to cover, David Taylor making 34 and Kevin Williams 30 as Bromyard closed on 206-8 from their 50 overs, Matthew Jeavons taking 4-85, Danny Jeavons 2-49 and Tony Abbott 2-7 before he was injured.

Zahid immediately put Netherton on the back foot, literally, with the wicket of Russell Oseland, bowled for a duck in the first over. Pete Whittenbury meanwhile put in another sterling spell of accurate away-swing, picking up the important wicket of Simon Oseland, caught and bowled off a full-toss for ten, and A Lewis for 11, well held in the gully by birthday boy James Hine.

Dave Scorer meanwhile picked up wicket-keeper Harris for 19, caught behind in the first over. However number five Dave Stibbon, utilising one of the strangest techniques seen in many a year, immediately took the game to Bromyard. Backing away from a couple of balls before promptly deposited the next one 30 yards out of the ground. He did this on four occasions and Netherton were up with the required run rate before Whittenbury picked up a third wicket, Asif Iqbal being trapped lbw for 12. He followed it up soon after with the wicket of Stibbon, caught in the gully by Hine for 41 to leave Netherton 110-6.

The introduction of off-spinner Dan Mills in the 33rd over once again brought immediate results. He had Danny Jeavons well stumped by Kevin Williams for ten, and followed it up with the wickets of left-hander A Price, bowled for 12 and Matthew Jeavons well held at mid-off by Dave Scorer having made two. Mills finished with the outstanding figures of three overs, one maiden, three for two.

It was left to Dave Kyte to finish the game in the 38th over. He had Netherton skipper Mark Clouston lbw to a shooter for four, to leave the home side 133 all out and Bromyard victorious by 17 runs.

Pete Whittenbury put in another great effort with 16 overs, three maidens, 4-67 and Zahid was unlucky to not get any more reward than 1-35 from 14 overs of quality left-arm fast-medium bowling.