LUCTONIANS pulled off a remarkable 14-run home win over Herefordshire rivals Bromyard in an exciting derby in the Crusader Worcestershire County League Division 1.
Left-arm spinner Simon Withers was the Luctonians' hero, snapping up 6-39 to skittle out Bromyard for 154 after the visitors had been coasting towards victory at 95-0.
Luctonians' hard-hitting Australian Alan Butter-worth was the mainstay of the home side's 168 all out in 43 overs, which was disappointing after they were 131-3.
Butterworth struck 13 fours in 74 from just 80 balls but after his dismissal only Steve Heathcote (21) made a significant contribution as Luctonians' innings faded against the pace of Zahid Saeed (4-39) and David Taylor (2-40).
The Bullock brothers, Ashley and Matt, got Bromyard's reply off to a superb start and the visitors were heading towards an easy win when Ashley was caught for an excellent 61 with the total at 95.
His elder brother soon followed for a polished 33 but the score had progressed to 132-2 when all-rounder Saeed was the third man out, caught at slip for 13. After Saeed fell, the Bromyard innings declined dramatically and the visitors lost four further wickets for the addition of six runs, including Edd Oliver for 18. Only wicket-keeper Richard Brookes (12 not out) made any headway against Butterworth (3-33) and man-of-the-match Withers, who extracted a large amount of turn from the bone-dry surface as Bromyard were shot out for 154 in 43.2 overs
Former Worcestershire CCC player Duncan Catterall hammered a new league record individual score of 185 not out as title-chasing Omber-sley amassed 339-4 in their winning draw against visiting Eastnor.
The prolific Catterall arrived at the crease with his side in trouble at 7-2 and he remained until the close, supported by P Wheeler (69), M Yardley (42) and M D'Oliveira (21).
In reply, Eastnor made a bright start before losing openers Danny Baker (19) and Keith Fortey (15) in quick succession. Eastnor, however, recovered from the two early blows and, although never threatening to overhaul the home side's huge total, made good progress.
A fine 62 from Steve Emery, an unbeaten 54 from Khalid, 45 from D Rees and 24 from Arshad, saw fifth-placed Eastnor finish on 236-5, and collect seven points from a losing draw. Catterall was the home side's most successful bowler, claiming 2-21 and D'Oliveira took 2-78.
Title-chasing Kington remain third, 22 points adrift of leaders Evesham, after an outstanding display from all-rounder Robbie Symonds swept them to an emphatic 130-run win over visiting Netherton.
The talented Symonds, batting at number five, blasted a rapid unbeaten 98 in Kington's impressive 267-7 and then snapped up 4-12 in 7.1 overs to help rush out the visitors for 137.
David Exall also shone in Kington's innings, striking 11 fours and two sixes in a quick-fire 78, but it was left-hander Symonds who took the plaudits, clubbing nine fours and five huge sixes in his blistering 72-ball knock.
Symonds immediately had the Netherton reply on the back foot, taking three wickets in his opening five overs, and the visitors slipped to 39-4.
Opener S Oseland made a solid 61 but Kington continued to chip away and, with spinner Tom Brierley bagging 4-37 and Kevin Gwynne, 2-84, victory was confirmed in 36.1 overs.
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