THIRD-placed Shipston-on- Stour stretched their Cotswold Hills League Premier Division lead over Exhall and Wixford to 11 points with a two-wicket away win.

Exhall were restricted to 228-6 before Shipston successfully chased their way to 229-8 for a haul of 19 points compared to their hosts’ nine.

Scott Carmichael (97) and Josh Smith (41) led the way for Exhall with Marcus Ireland taking 2-63 and Jon Walker (1-32) bowling tightly.

In reply, Shipston were reduced to 69-4 but Walker (59) and Gary Betteridge (31) put them back on track before Phil Hall (38) and Craig Robins (13 not out) ensured victory with more than three overs left.

Stephen Kerby claimed 3-32 and Jack Wain 2-44.

Shipston seconds upset the Division Three form book with a 23-run home victory over promotion-chasing Kenilworth Wardens thirds.

They took a big stride away from the relegation zone in fourth-from-bottom position after dismissing their visitors for 167 in reply to 190-7.

After winning another toss, home skipper Andrew Righton saw Neil Harper (28), Matthew Pratt (34) and Kenny Shurmer (41) play sensibly against a strong, varied attack.

The hosts passed the century mark in the 32nd over for the loss of only three wickets and pushed on during the final overs thanks to rapid cameos from Kenny Hirst (25) and Roger Wickson (14no) before they reached 190-7.

Wardens’ openers began steadily against another fine spell from Joe Godson (2-27) who provided 10 overs of classy left-arm swing bowling and eventually dismissed both.

More wickets fell to Dave Pyne (1-15) and Marcus Davies (2-30) before Dan Phillips and Jack Sorrell came together at 66-5 in the 23rd over to rebuild the innings.

They took the visitors up to 121 in the 35th over before Phillips (31) was well caught low down by Hirst racing in from long-off off Pratt.

Mike Challis-Brown showed aggressive intent to help Wardens reach 161-6 after 41 overs.

But Wickson (3-26) produced a back-of-a-length ball that scuttled along the floor to bowl Sorrell for 48.

Challis-Brown (23) soon followed, bowled by Shurmer, and Wickson picked up the last two wickets in successive balls to dismiss Wardens for 167 during the penultimate over.

􀁥 Mid-table Winchcombe won by 50 runs at Ebrington in Division Two after scoring 217-9 from 45 overs.

Opener Edward Huggett carried his bat for 97no and Karsten Hale added 30 with Nathaniel Gregory taking 3-42 and James Hicks 3-47.

Despite Tom Clarkson’s 88, Edd Major (5-25) and LJ Ashton (3-38) mopped up the Ebrington batting.