SHIPSTON-on-Stour remain 30 points off leaders Earlswood after a six-wicket Cotswold Hills League Premier Division win over relegation- threatened Kineton.

The visitors managed 187 all out but had looked set to score 250-plus when Ed Millard raced to 50 in 10 overs.

Marcus Ireland and Paul Cross were expensive for third-placed Shipston but Jon Walker (3-28) maintained a degree of control and eventually dismissed Millard (61).

At 84-3 from just 14 overs, youthful Kineton were then hit by regular wickets as only three more players reached double figures.

Richard Bryan returned his best spell of 3-16 and Jack Murphy chipped in with 2-9 before Ireland finished off the innings with the last two wickets.

A partnership of 77 by Matthew Corby (34) and Ireland (30) in 15 overs ended with three wickets in 10 deliveries.

Jordan Dunant (2-31) bowled well and, with the spin of Jack Stevens (1-38), initially troubled the hosts.

After a cautious start, a fine partnership of 102 between Julian Morris (60) and Jack Murphy (40) took the game away from Kineton.

Morris was caught to end with just five runs needed for victory but a comfortable win was achieved in the 36th over on 188-4.

Shipston seconds won an exciting Division Three contest by one wicket at fellow strugglers Ashorne after chasing 136-8 from 45 overs.

Ashorne lost the toss and faced fine bowling from Nick Hibberd and Joe Godson (1-9 from 10 overs) on a wicket displaying variable bounce.

Spinner Dave Pyne (1-12) claimed an opener after 15 overs as the hosts crawled to 16-1.

Wickets fell regularly as only Tom Husselby (49) showed sufficient application before falling to Matthew Pratt (3-42).

Gary Hammersley (31 not out) and Mark Freeman (21) broke the shackles in the last few overs. Marcus Davies took 3-34.

The reply got off to a flier as Hibberd (50) peppered the leg-side short boundaries for his first Shipston half-century inside 10 overs, including 11 boundaries.

The visitors advanced to 84-1 before Neil Harper (13) was trapped lbw and then they collapsed to 114-9.

Nick Saunders (5-21) and Paul Aitken (3-13) bowled full and straight with enough movement to deceive the batsmen.

Pyne defended well, allowing Kenny Hirst to pick up runs as the pair inched Shipston towards their victory target.

Hirst eventually struck the winning boundary through square leg for 138-9, finishing off a fine innings of 22no under pressure with Pyne unbeaten on one.