SCORELINES can often be misleading and Exhall and Wixford didn't have things all their own way in Saturday's eight-wicket win at Twyning that has left them in pole position in the Premier Division of the Cotswold Hills League.

The 2000 champions had their hosts reeling at 19-6 and an early return to Warwickshire seemed inevitable.

However, Manny Smith and Adam Brookes came together and shared a remarkable stand of 140 that turned the game on its head.

Brookes was finally out for 61 before Smith was snapped up at the wicket by Graeme Wicks requiring a boundary off the last ball to complete what would have been an amazing century.

Chasing 201 for victory, limping skipper Simon Hollands led the way with a half-century before Wicks hit an unbeaten 89 to guide Exhall to victory.

It proved a profitable day for the villagers as their second string edged a second division thriller against Chipping Campden.

The hero for the home side was Leon Gates whose innings of 113 almost single-handedly steered Exhall to the 187 needed for victory.

Pegged back

Earlier, James Lindner (41) and Richard Lewis (57) had given Campden a flying start but they were pegged back by Jim Goldstraw who took 5-35.

Reigning champions Overbury were again indebted to Paul Gillett as they overcame Stratford Bards by five wickets.

Dropped twice early in his innings, Gillett's 30-ball stay brought 70 unbeaten runs to add to 63 from Ali Munro as Overbury overhauled the home side's 219-3 that contained an undefeated 111 from South African overseas import Sandili Masengemi.

There was a remarkable all-round display in the fourth division where Harvington's Trevor Knowles was the chief architect of the downfall of Stratford Bards.

Knowles delivered nine maidens in his ten-over stint that brought the magnificent figures of two wickets for just three runs as Bards were restricted to 198-6.

The bowler then strode to the wicket with his side three wickets down and few than 30 runs on the board but his unbeaten 86 and Gardner's 42 not out brought the hosts an improbable seven-wicket success.

There was some more exceptional bowling analysis at Dorridge where Mickleton ran out nine wicket winners. Lord grabbed 3-9 and there were two wickets apiece for Louw, Adams and Powell who didn't concede a run in bowling out the tail as the hosts slumped to 74 all out.

Powell's unbeaten 41 then guided Mickleton to victory and fourth place in Division Five behind undefeated leaders Fladbury, Ashorne and Tanworth.

Fladbury were easy winners over Henley after 68 from Colin Cole and 65 not out from Nick Mytton had helped the villagers amass 242 - a total that proved 122 too many as Andy Revell grabbed 4-23.

Bidford were another side in trouble with the bat but their late order came good to help overcome Ebrington in a thrilling clash on the Big Meadow.

Indebted

Struggling at 108-8 after 32 overs, the home side were indebted to a superb century stand between Ben Cooper and Chris Wyatt as they set their Cotswolds first division rivals 211 for victory.

Cooper was unbeaten with 73 to his name at tea after which his ally with the bat quickly made inroads into the visiting line-up.

Peachey set about the recovery with a classy 60 after two wickets had fallen with the arrears decreased by just eight runs but once he departed Bidford were in charge with the chasers 122-8.

However, another flourish by the tail saw Thompson (35no) and captain Hunt (28no) add 69 but it all proved in vain as Ebrington's gallant chase fell 19 runs short.

Saturday's most one-sided clash was at Broadway where Steve Quiney's 83, an unbeaten 101 from Rob Burford and 53 not out from Steve Howes helped the hosts to 291-2 against Welford.

It didn't get much better after tea for the visitors as four of the top five batsmen were dismissed without scoring. Howes completed a superb all-round show with four wickets for five runs, while Duncan Beale grabbed 4-19 as Welford were shot out for 49.

There were ducks at the top of the batting order for both sides at Alcester and Ragley where Shipston won the top flight clash by six wickets.

Lee Clark was an early victim for Matt Corby as the hosts were skittled for 118 with only Mark Woolley's half-century offering any resistance.

Neil Harper then went without troubling the scorers in the opening over after tea but Corby's 59 helped the London Roaders to their first win of the season.

The Ragley Park's second string pulled off a remarkable Division Four win at Kenilworth who were form favourites having totalled 212-9.

However, Paul Dipple had other ideas after seeing the reply reach 98-4 after 25 overs and his unbeaten 88 made from just 57 balls helped complete a two-wicket win.

While Wellesbourne were completing a first and second team double, victims of the senior side Bretforton were suffering a double dose of defeat.

Birtles, Smith, Evans and Weston all took wickets as Bretforton were shot out for 94 although Wellesbourne made hard work of securing their first win with Birtles top scoring with 27 as their penultimate pair at the crease saw them home.

The second string enjoyed a successful third division chase at Hockley Heath but Bretforton could only mange 87 as Smith, Edmunds and Robinson bowled Cookhill to victory after the early Division Six pacesetters had amassed 201-8.