NOTHING more than a win would have kept Evesham at the top of the table and that's exactly what they got when they entertained Droitwich last Saturday.

The five-wicket win leaves Evesham two points clear of closest Crusader Worcester-shire County League first division title rivals Ombersley, while no fewer than five other clubs - including last weekend's victims - will still fancy their chances of sneaking into the promotion picture.

Jon Gregory asked Droitwich to bat and they were soon in trouble as Neal Radford struck two early blows.

However, Ian Duggan dug in and his patient innings brought a well crafted century but little support saw the visitors dismissed for 192.

This was never going be enough to halt the run hungry hosts and Stuart Berry and Gary Lewis soon laid the platform for a fifth league win of the summer.

Ian Stowe and Radford also shone with the bat but it was left to the captain to inflict the decisive blows as the target was reached within 40 overs.

The match ball was sponsored by Allchurch Bailey.

It was same opponents different venue the next day for a Clubs League clash when Evesham completed a double.

Gregory was back among the runs with a half-century, but it was Barry Clements who caught the eye with a blistering century in a total of 238 that included a horrendous late collapse.

Warren Irvine then blew away the home side's top order with a spell of 3-10 from nine overs and the rest of the reply was academic as Evesham cantered to victory by 68 runs.

The prolific Lewis was given a run out with the seconds on Sunday when he finished on the losing side. The opener scored 90 out of Evesham's 144 - an innings that included five ducks and only Richard Layton and James Cutler reaching double figures.

Thomas hit an unbeaten 83 as Droitwich recorded a comfortable six-wicket victory.

Layton had struck a magnificent hundred the previous day as he helped the second string amass a daunting 258.

Support came from Andy Shorey and Luke Radford who then picked up two wickets to add to the four for Will Bailey and three for Cutler as Droitwich fell 16 runs short of their target.