Hurrells a hit as Jon's ton opens up title race (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Hurrells a hit as Jon's ton opens up title race

A CENTURY for Jon Gregory and a triple helping of the Hurrells has left the battle for the Cotswold Hills League title firmly back in the melting pot.

The leading quartet are now separated by just 20 points following Overbury's defeat of Broadway and, more crucially, a seven-wicket victory for Moreton-in-Marsh over leaders Exhall and Wixford.

James, Ashley and Keith Hurrell picked up eight wickets between them to help restrict Exhall to 145-9 at Batsford Road last Sat-urday before the former duo put together a century stand as the hosts heaved themselves back into title contention.

Impressive

James, who had earlier taken 2-30, was unbeaten with 57 at the finish, while brother Ashley followed up impressive figures of 4-35 with a top score of 65 as the section top dogs crashed to only a second defeat of the summer.

Overbury took full advantage to pocket 20 points and move within five of the side they are due to host later this month as they defeated Broadway by 73 runs.

The hosts snapped up a trio of early wickets but Gregory (119no) and Pearce (55) embarked on a rescue act that was substantiated by 39 from Paul Gillett.

The all-rounder then struck two early blows with the ball before Nigel Evans and Chris Close moved Broadway towards three figures.

However, Gregory removed the former for 35 and then Watson for 20 before Gillett doubled his wicket tally to finish with 4-24 as the chasers were dismissed for 190.

Shipston made it six wins out of six and they will be looking to heap more misery on Exhall when the two sides meet this weekend.

Relegation threatened Alc-ester and Ragley were the London Road side's latest victims on a day when skipper Gary Betteridge was again in top form.

Betteridge helped his side recover from the loss of two early wickets with a knock of 38 while helping Matthew Corby (43) and Dave Murphy (30) add 62 and 52 respectively.

Mark Woolley took four wickets including the scalp of Matthew Pratt, out for the first time this summer to finally give him an average that now stands at 108!

Shipston ended one short of 200 at the close and it was a target that Alcester must have fancied reaching when they stood at 95-2 after 25 overs.

However, the turning point came seven balls later when Shaun Quirke was deceived by the wily Murphy who then clung on to a stunning catch as Betteridge grabbed three late wickets.

Woolley completed a good all-round show with an innings of 38 that was ended by a direct hit from Murphy in the last over that the visitors played out to deny Shipston maximum bowling points.

Reigning champions Strat-ford Bards are still in there fighting after a four-wicket defeaf of Bidford and they also have to face Exhall - a match scheduled for Satur-day week when the leaders are at Lord's for the Village Cup final.

Tanworth-in-Arden boun-ced back from losing both openers for ducks as they chased 162 for victory at home to Elmley Castle.

Townsend led the fightback with 70, while Rowland hit 47 in a five-wicket win that leaves them 21 points clear of Henley, who lost to Norton Lindsey.

Earlswood easily disposed of Kineton's challenge to stay third, while Bretforton rolled over Warwick CC Staff for a paltry 29 after posting a target of 185.

Craig Griffiths boasted figures of 7-11 after Ady Witts (79) and Paul Jones (61) had shone with the bat.

Division Two title promotion hopefuls Stratford and Ashton both passed the 200-mark in attaining 22 and 20 points resp-ectively to stay ahead of Shi-pston's second string who topped both scores with 225-6 in an easy win over FISSC.

Tom Archer (84) was again in fine form with the bat for Ash-ton in an 80-run win over Well-esbourne. Jason Haines chipped in with an unbeaten 60, while Karl Shepherd's spell of 3-14 helped reduce the hosts to 147 all out.

Overbury enjoyed a profitable afternoon as the club's second string took over top spot in Division Three after victory against Great Alne and Norton Lindsey's surprise setback agai-nst Harvington.

Chasing a massive 309-2, the former section leaders made a brave fist of it before succumbing just 21 runs short in a game of almost 600 runs.

Steve Wheeler (102) and Ed Cottrill, who scored a magnificent 157 added 249 for the first wicket before Steve McNally's spell of 4-46 ended Norton's hopes.

Leamington continue to lead Division Four after an easy defeat of Rowington and their chances of clinching the title were so nearly helped by More-ton-in-Marsh.

Visiting second placed Long Itchington, the Batsford Roaders could only amass 129 before losing out as the home side's last wicket pair prised out the narrowest of victories.

Fladbury did their promotion hopes a power of good with a tremendous run chase after being set 203 for victory at Kenilworth - a target they achieved with six wickets to spare.

Dave Phipps top scored with 69 for the winners, while Owen Donovan was undefeated with 69 to his name at the finish.