MARCUS Ireland’s vital 97 helped Shipston-on-Stour Cricket Club to a hard-fought 32-run win at Tanworth & Camp Hill in the Cotswold Hills League Premier Division.

Ireland rescued Shipston’s innings after they had slipped to 98-7 and his match-saving knock propelled the visitors to challenging 194 all out.

Jack Murphy and Nick Hibberd then snapped up three wickets apiece as the hosts were dismissed for 162.

Shipston’s fourth win in a row has kept them third in the table, just 12 points behind table-topping Norton Lindsey.

Shipston travel to lowly Leamington Thirds on Saturday (1.30pm) and will be aiming to maintain their title bid.

Shipston lost the toss on a sunny afternoon and were asked to bat first to the surprise of skipper Tom Cox.

The hosts’ choice looked even more baffling when openers Harry Dube (29) and Gary Betteridge (25) raced Shipston’s score to 60-0 from the first 10 overs.

However, Turnbull (5-41) suddenly hit form to reduce Shipston to 68-4 and they were facing an uphill battle when the visitors crashed to 98-7.

With Shipston reeling, Ireland was left to negotiate the final 18 overs batting with the tail.

Daniel Paton (6) joined Ireland at the crease and provided excellent support, defending well and rotating the strike.

Ireland brought up his half-century in the 35th over and soon after the pair had put together a 50-run partnership to steer Shipston to 149-7.

Turnbull removed Paton with his final delivery but Ireland continued to score well, putting on 23 with Dave Pyne (1) and 22 with John Paton (1 not out).

Ireland was caught on the boundary just three runs short of what would have been a deserved century.

Shipston couldn’t have hoped for a better start, reducing the home side to 30-4 after a smart run-out by Dube and wickets for Paton (2-25).

Proudman (46) and Dixon (21) staged a mini fightback to stem the flow of wickets and guide their team to 70-4 at drinks.

Tanworth’s lower order put up a good fight to keep their side in the game with Williamson hitting 25 and Wigley 20.

Hibberd (3-27) made the vital breakthrough, removing Williamson and cleaned up the rest of the tail in his next over, while Murphy finished with 3-34 and Ireland 1-25.