Eastnor lost by seven wickets at Luctonians in this Crusader Worcestershire County League Division One fixture.

LUCTONIANS v EASTNOR

Eastnor batted first and scored 201 all out in the 50th over. This was never going to be enough on a wicket that offered little help to the bowlers, with most batsmen getting themselves out.

Arshad hit a fine 59 with support from Jim Sandford 37, Shahid 37. Tariq rallied to score 17 not out with Dan Baker with 11 were the only batsmen in double figures. The main wicket taker for Luctonians was their overseas player Butterworth with 5-43. M Pledge helped out as well with 3-31.

Luctonians reply saw an early set back with Tariq removing their opener Hick with the score at 17 but Platford remained for the remainder of the game to finish 79 not out.

Heathcote made 38 and Butterworth was 45 not out to see Luctonians home on 203 in the 40th over.

EASTNOR II v LUCTONIANS II

ON a sunny afternoon in Eastnor, captain Steve Emery lost the toss, and was asked to field.

The opening partnership of Suter and James started to blossom before Simon Astbury took a good diving catch off the bowling of Matt Phillips.

With Bradley taking a wicket in the next over, things were starting to look good. However a 50 run partnership started to tip the advantage back towards the visitors.

Martin Loveridge, bowling for the first in the seconds this season, took a wicket with his first ball, having Morgan caught in the deep by Pat Locke. The same bowler also had Trumper caught well again by Astbury in the same over.

Skipper Emery then brought himself into the attack, and bowled a tight line, finishing with 3 wickets for just 23 runs.

Adrian Hope came into ba, with Lucs looking to add to a low score and he did just that. He added a quick 39, before finally being caught out in the final over off the bowling of Marc Wildig. Phillips also returned to the attack clean bowling Austin.

This left Eastnor chasing 220 for victory, with the weather conditions, and also the batting track looking good, they were confident they could get somewhere close.

Simon Astbury took an instant liking to the opening attack, and hit a quick 34, before being bowled. Ali Barnes (17) fell the next over, bringing Pat Locke and Adam Greeves to the crease. The pair put on a good partnership of 87, before Locke (34) was bowled by Apperly. Greeves played some cracking shots, before he to fell, for a well deserved 85.

With the next few batsmen falling for single figures, and the wickets and overs running out, the shout came, to shut up shop, and bat out for the draw, leaving both sets of players frustrated. Eastnor eventually finishing just 15 runs short of Lucs total.