A FLINT & Cook Marches League Division 2 cricket match between Ledbury and Bartestree & Lugwardine threw up an unusual scenario when identical twin brothers Steve and Stuart Evans captained opposing teams.

The pair, aged 33, have been sibling rivals since playing cricket in their back garden as children and, although Ledbury's Steve won the toss, it was Bartestree's stand-in skipper Stuart who was smiling at the end after the villagers completed a five-wicket away win.

The brothers, both larger-than-life characters who live in Ledbury, started in the youth ranks at Brockhampton, where their father Ray played for many years.

The pair went on to represent Herefordshire Schools from under-13 to under-16 levels and joined Ledbury, although Stuart switched to Bartestree three seasons ago.

Stuart is a left-handed batsman who bowls right-arm off-spin, while Steve is a right-hand batsman and a left-arm seamer.

Steve said: "There's always a lot of sibling rivalry between us. I suppose it is fair to say that we are like two peas in a pod."

Stuart actually dismissed Steve in the first meeting between the two sides earlier in the season when Bartestree also won. But Steve had the satisfaction of becoming the first brother to reach a maiden century, hitting 113 against Knighton in June.