DROITWICH fell an agonising four runs short in a nail-biting Worcestershire County League Division Two defeat to Bartestree & Lugwardine but can only have themselves to blame.
Chasing 155, Spa slumped from 63-2 to 110-8 but then took themselves to the brink of victory with a gutsy ninth wicket partnership between Matt Gurr and Phil Thomas before the former edged behind after another mature performance which belied his 15 years.
Credit goes to the visitors’ bowling attack who stuck to their task and were rewarded with the dismissal of last man Dave Stephens with just one boundary needed.
Martyn Davies top scored with 38 for the hosts.
Along with Gurr, the spinner had earlier claimed three wickets but Droitwich were left to rue a lacklustre fielding display which featured around 20 wides bowled and several catching chances go begging.
The Seconds were comfortably beaten by eight wickets at Bewdley in Division Two Second XI where the home side cruised past their victory target with 17 overs to spare as Paul Beard (78 not out) and James Rawlings (48 not out) shared an unbroken third wicket stand of 122.
Dave Huntbatch (36) and captain Karl Goddard (37 not out) were the mainstays in the Droitwich innings of 154-8.
A superb spell of 5-11 in nine overs from Lee Wright helped the Thirds to a comfortable eight-wicket win at Redditch in Division Five.
Redditch were bowled out for just 62.
Meanwhile, the Fourths were dumped out of the 45 Over KO Cup by Worcester by 84 runs.
Dan Pearson claimed 4-28 and Tom Hodgson returned an impressive 2-5 from 8.2 overs as the visitors scored 159.
Josh Hancock scored 21 on his senior debut but was one of only two batsman to reach double figures as Spa were shot out for 75.
On Saturday the Firsts travel to Bredon, the Seconds entertain Colwall, the Thirds play host to Harvington while the Fourths make the trip to Barnards Green.
