SPIRITS were sky high at Avon Street on Saturday despite gloomy clouds and a chill north-westerly wind as Evesham pulled off yet another win, to take them 28 points clear at the top of Division Three of the Birmingham Premier League.

Neal Radford (right) was the architect of a victory that looked improbable when St Georges needed 70 to win off 19 overs with seven wickets in hand.

In a match played on a green-tinged pitch, Evesham started badly by losing the toss in bowler friendly conditions and struggled in the early overs.

Ian Suckling was first to go followed soon after by fellow left-handed opener, Mark Penter. Skipper Barry Clements brought some authority to proceedings before departing lbw to Australian import Lunn, who maintained tight control while bowling seamers at a brisk pace.

Composed

Radford and Stuart Berry then began the recovery with the latter in composed mood and finding the middle of the bat, so it came as a surprise when he was bowled for 24.

Radford continued to bat with authority, but it was Ian Stowe who took the eye as a repeatedly eased the ball to the boundary with perfect timing.

Both men fell just short of their half-centuries with Radford being caught at short extra cover and Stowe bowled for 46 by the returning Lunn.

Francois Nel ensured the advantage wasn't lost with a robust innings that included two sixes. Even so, the final score of 208 all out was something of a disappointment as the hosts once more failed to bat out the 55 overs.

Saints started their reply in fine style with Miller and Wright despatching some wayward to all quarters and 60 runs were on the board with only ten overs sent down.

Nel's introduction put the brakes on but it took a bit of Radford magic to remove both the openers.

The former Worcestershire and England player switched ends and had Miller caught off the back of the bat at backward point and Wright off a top edge well caught by Berry.

However, Lunn settled in and saw the score comfortably past three figures and the nerves of Evesham supporters weren't eased by the sight of Nel limping off the pitch with a damaged leg muscle.

The introduction of off-spinner Penter into the attack appeared to herald the last and decisive phase of the game. Initially, all didn't go well with the vital wicket of Lunn missed by a dropped catch but, with Penter tightening the screws and Radford returning for a third, final and decisive spell, the visitors began to buckle.

Chris Weaver brought off a smart stumping, followed by two catches off Radford. Penter trapped two more when, with ten needed, Radford emphatically yorked the last man before taking the last wicket to return figures of 7-70.

Penter took 3 for 37 off 14 overs, leaving his fellow Aussie high and dry on 80 not out.

The second team travelled to Telford but had to settle for a draw after restricting the home team to 217-9 with young leg-spinner James Anderson taking 6-91 off 17 overs.

The visitors were soon four good wickets down with the target reduced by a mere 43 but Andy Milner followed up his maiden 50 with a rumbustious 74, accompanied in a stand of 137 by James Byrne, who recorded his maiden half-century for the Club.

Nevertheless, the loss of the early wickets left the team with too much to do but to hold out for a draw.

The Sunday Academy side easily overcame Barnards Green thanks to a solid all-round display.

They rattled up 274-8 and then dismissed the visitors for 155.

Nel (90), Penter (56) and Will Bailey (43) helped the first team amass 293-9 in the reverse fixture but it didn't prove enough for victory in reply to the home side's 312-7.