LOOKING to build on their third-place finish last term, Bromyard gained an exciting 20-run victory over Redditch to get their Crusader Worcestershire League campaign away to a solid start at Flaggoners Green.

Batting first, Oliver Bailey (28) gave them a flying start and then Ashley Bullock (35) and Edd Oliver (54) laid a solid platform.

Bromyard reached 89-1 by mid-innings, but once they were parted the batting stuttered, they were restricted to 169-8.

The Redditch reply was a similar story, 57-0 after 12 overs became 99-6.

When the score reached 135-6, Redditch were in the box seat but then the last four wickets went down for 14 runs. Pete Whittenbury (5-63) and James Hine (3-32) did the damage.

Promoted Colwall have got title aspirations of their own and they won their opening fixture in Division 1 with a 10-wicket success over Worcester after restricting the visitors to 185-9.

Tom Coleman, who struck 14 boundaries and one six, was just two runs short of his century when the winning run was scored in the 29th over. His partner Nick Panniers had 10 fours in his unbeaten 59.

Spinner Charlie Griffiths (7-43 off 17 overs) put the skids under the Worcester innings, after Ed Smith and Damien Berry had bowled tight opening spells.

Chasing Hagley’s target of 201-8 in Division 2, Monmouth’s last-wicket pair held out at 176-9 to claim the losing draw.

The Hagley innings centred around an unbeaten century from their opener Adam Baker, while Andy McGuire (3-50) and two wickets apiece from Jon Roberts and Aled Jones accounted for his colleagues.

Seven Monmouth batsmen reached double figures, but only David Teague (55) threatened to take the game away from Hagley.

Newly-promoted Burghill and Tillington got their Division 3 season of to a flying start with a 76-run home win over Alvechurch and Hopwood. They bowled the visitors out for 254, after scoring 330-7.

New signing Owen Morgan (98) and John Terry (93) laid the foundations for the win and then three wickets apiece from Matt Biggs and Terry completed the job.

Unbeaten half-centuries from Tom Bevan and skipper Shaun Waldron steered Wormelow to a comfortable seven-wicket win in 25 overs at Stourbridge 3rd, after the home side were bowled out for 136, with Chris Powell (4-22) and Ian Herbert (4-25) doing the damage.