Overbury can move to top with win over Ragley men (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Overbury can move to top with win over Ragley men

NEAR neighbours Alcester and Ragley could give Cotswold Hills League leaders Exhall and Wixford a huge boost ahead of Sunday's visit to Lord's.

Exhall's trip to London means their scheduled league match at Stratford Bards has been rearranged for Septe-mber 4 - a move that could see Overbury take over at the top on Saturday.

However, the team in second place face a potentially precarious visit of the Ragley Park men this weekend when Alcester will be determined to end any thoughts of relegation after last week's crucial defeat of Bidford.

Julian Reader, Lewis Clark, Shaun Quirke and Mark Woolley all took two wickets as Bidford slumped from 125-3 after 30 overs to 162 all out after skipper Macer Nash (60) looked like steering his side to a score above 200.

Mick Nason then returned excellent figures of 1-15 off ten overs as the chasers were kept in check but Mark Fawthrop upped the tempo alongside a patient Quirke.

Sixty runs were needed off the final 15 overs and Quirke (58no) and Adam Devey (29no) proved an able pairing as Alcester won with six wickets and two overs to spare.

While Quirke was posting only his second half-century of the summer, Steve Kerby struck his first for Exhall who easily accounted for Shipston.

Chasing 179 for victory, the league leaders had Kerby (57no) and Graeme Wickes (77no) to thank for the century stand that brought an easy eight-wicket win.

Jon Morris had earlier hit 67 for the visitors, while Gary Betteridge was unbeaten on 49 before being left to rue a couple of dropped catches that allowed Exhall to stay five points clear of Overbury.

Twyning must have had high hopes of causing a shock when they dismissed Over-bury for 162 but the visiting side's bowlers hit back to shoot out the Tewkesbury men for 114.

It promises to be a fascinating Bank Holiday Saturday when Overbury play host to Exhall and Wellesbourne face Bidford when title and relegation matters could be tied up.

Stratford and Ashton are slugging out the tussle for Division Two honours after both sides recorded easy wins last Saturday.

The leaders had 79 runs to spare against Catherine-de-Barnes, while Tom Archer was again in fine form for Ashton who overcame Chip-ping Campden by six wickets.