Cotswold Hills League

BIDFORD won the Division One basement battle by beating Stratford by six wickets at the Big Meadow on Saturday.

After being put into bat, the visitors started brightly reaching 35-1 off 10 overs.

However, the introduction of Neil Edkins (1-18) and Ben Cooper (2-29) slowed them down, the pair bowling tightly on a wicket providing assistance.

The duo, in their 10-over spells, also made inroads into the top order which left the visitors in the precarious position of 77-4 off 28 overs.

Mike Nason was then introduced and his six-over blitz swung the game the home side's way as the visitors crumbled to 107 all out.

Apart from his third, Nason took a wicket in every over to finish with fine figures of 5-13. Pete Taylor provided assistance at the other end by picking up a wicket to add to his earlier one to finish with 2-30.

Taylor (33) then went into pinch hitting mode at the start of Bidford's innings as the home side raced to 50 off 13 overs before he was bowled.

Fellow opener Macer Nash (13) was then joined by Andy Pickles and the pair, under difficult batting conditions, guided Bidford to 66 off 22 overs before the former was bowled by the accurate Jenkins, who finished with the remarkable figures of 10 overs, nine maidens, two wickets for just two runs.

However, Pickles (31no) stayed patient and assisted by brief knocks from Edkins and Nason, guided the home side to victory with six wickets to spare.