BROADWAY continued their fine start to the Cotswold Hills Cricket League Premier Division season by beating local rivals Elmley Castle.

The second-placed visitors recorded a three-wicket victory after passing the target of 114 to leave Elmley still searching for their first win of the campaign.

After being asked to bat first, the hosts struggled against the bowling of Jamie Powell and Nick Stewart and slumped to 44- 5. Jamie Bailey (14) and Neil Cooper (19) added 36 runs in 12 overs but Andy Beale accounted for them and Liam Charlton.

Skipper Will Bailey (25), with the help of Mike Brown and Ashley Charlton, ensured they went past 100 before being bowled out in the final over.

Beale finished with 4-22, Powell 2-22, Adam Smallman 2-7 and Jason Horsburgh 2-48 to collect maximum bowling points.

Broadway, through Gary Evans (23) and Nigel Evans (33), managed 45 runs from 13 overs until both openers fell.

Marcus Humpston (10) departed followed by two more wickets and bottom-of-the-table Elmley had an outside chance of victory.

But Mark Evans (16) kept the scoreboard ticking over, aided by lusty blows from Matt Phillips and Gary Hawkins.

Smallman shrugged off the pressure with a six and a single as Broadway completed the job in the 34th over, finishing on 115- 7. Meanwhile, Broadway seconds beat Great Alne seconds by two wickets in Division Five after restricting the visitors to 110 all out. Tom Willett took 3-18, Toby Smith 2-15 and Warren Marston 3-29.

Despite falling to 25-5, the hosts maintained their winning start through Carlo Carenza (24), William Jelfs (15 not out) and debutant Toby Smith (8no).

On Sunday, Broadway lost by four wickets at Pencombe in the National Village Cup second round after scoring just 62 all out on an unpredictable wicket.

They hit back in the field via Powell (3-3), Stewart (2-19) and Smallman (1-12), having the Herefordshire side on 31-6 before the next pair beat the target.

Moreton-in-Marsh won by one wicket at Alcester and Ragley in Cotswold Hills League Division One.