CONTRASTING innings' from skipper Duncan Platford and Australian all-rounder Alan Butterworth guided Luctonians to a convincing seven-wicket home victory over Herefordshire rivals Eastnor in the Crusader Worcestershire County League Division 1.

Replying to Eastnor's respectable 201, the Kingsland outfit wrapped up their third league victory of the campaign with 10 overs remaining.

Luctonians' opener Platford made a solid unbeaten 79 from 123 balls, containing seven fours and a six, while man-of-the-match Butterworth swept the home side to their target, hammering an undefeated 45 from just 21 balls, including four fours and three sixes.

Previously, Butterworth starred with the ball for Luctonians, bagging 5-42, and he was supported by Mike Pledge, 3-31.

Although Eastnor slipped to 44-5, they recovered and were finally dismissed just past the 200-mark off the last ball of the innings.

Arshad (59), Jim Sandford (37), and Shahid (37) all weighed in for Eastnor but the total failed to test the Luctonians' batsmen.

Kington stretched their lead at the top of the table to 24 points after an exciting 113-run home win over lowly Hagley.

Stylish centuries from Dave Exall and Ed Symonds and, an outstanding 14.3-over stint of left-arm seam bowling from Robbie Symonds (7-49), steered unbeaten Kington to their fifth league victory.

The Herefordshire side, however, made a circumspect start against a spirited Hagley opening burst and were reduced to 12-3.

Exall then joined Symonds at the crease and the pair combined to breathe new life into the Kington innings with a fourth wicket stand of 224.

Exall completed his maiden century for the first team, finishing with 108 from just 107 balls, including 16 fours and a six, while Symonds remained unbeaten on 107 from 114 deliveries, containing 12 fours and a six.

Kington declared at 275-6 from 47 overs to give themselves a better chance of winning the match - and the decision paid dividends.

Although C Eades made 35, J Goodwin, 27, and P Hallett, 21, the visitors struggled to come to terms with the swing and seam of the lively Symonds.

Kevin Gwynne took 2-48 before Symonds claimed the final of his seven victims to seal Kington's win in the 51st over.

Bromyard were thwarted by Netherton's last-wicket pair and had to settle for a winning draw in their competitive away clash.

Opener Matthew Bullock led the way for eighth-placed Bromyard, striking 14 boundaries in his unbeaten 102, which steered the visitors to a challenging 190-5.

Bromyard pace duo Nick Hitchings and Pakistani Zahid Saeed then reduced Netherton to 80-4 before middle-order batsman Darren Hall (51 not out) came to the home side's rescue.

In-form Hitchings finished with 7-73 from 25 unchanged overs and Saeed, 2-48 from 22 overs as Netherton held on to reach 179-9.