SHIPSTON-on-Stour went down to a comprehensive eight-wicket defeat against Cotswold Hills League Premier Division leaders Earlswood.

The hosts opted to bat first and, despite losing Matt Corby (17) early on, had advanced to a healthy position of 97-1 before Marcus Ireland (28) was caught by Will Windyatt off Waquar Mohammed’s third delivery.

A run out resulted in Julian Morris being dismissed having just reached 50 but Jack Murphy (4) and Gary Betteridge (2) put Earlswood on top.

Jon Walker and Paul Cross added 30 to take the score to 138- 5 but Walker, in trying to repeat a shot played to the previous ball which resulted in a huge six, was caught at slip.

That sparked another flurry of wickets as Sam Hince (0), Craig Robins (1), Richard Bryan (6) and skipper Cross (10) all perished as the innings closed on a well-below total of just 150.

Waqar Mohammed returned best figures of 4-31 with Tariq Mohammed (2-27), Arron Snipe (2-22) and Marvin Rice (1-21) the other wicket takers.

Openers Leon Everitt (28) and Waqar Mohammed (30) started cautiously against some pacy and testing early overs from Bryan and Ireland but any luck favoured the batsmen.

An opening stand of 69 set the platform for a comfortable win.

Murphy (2-29) dismissed both openers but Tariq Mohammed scored 47 in an unbeaten partnership of 69 with Craig Everitt (29).

  • Shipston’s seconds continued their revival in Division Three with a six-wicket win at Stanway.

After Shipston skipper Andy Rughton had won the toss and decided to bowl, the hosts advanced to 95-2 after losing Biggs for 34 and captain Andy O’Brien for 21.

However, despite opener Joshua Colwell top scoring with 47, Stanway fell to 159 all out.

Nicholas Hibberd took 3-24.

Shipston proceeded steadily and, having seen Roger Wickson (11), Matthew Pratt (17) and Tom Cox (10) depart, needed 73 from 13 overs.

Kenny Hirst fell for four but skipper Righton (26 not out) and Neil Harper (61no) saw Shipston home with two overs to spare with a stand of 69 in 10 overs.