WHILE the 2001 and 2002 Cotswold Hills league champions were in winning mood, reigning champions Shipston suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of new Premier Division leaders Overbury.

Paul Gillett was the man to put the London Roaders to the sword as he ripped out the top five batsmen as the hosts slumped to 33-6.

A previous record low score of 53 looked out of reach but Tom Wood and Dave Murphy dropped anchor as Will Langdon sent down nine overs for a paltry eight runs - six of which were maidens.

Murphy spent 20 overs out in the middle for a top score of 19 but a total of 74 was never going to possess a threat to Overbury.

George Hardwick snapped up two quick wickets but a rapid 27 from Gillett saw a seven-wicket win recorded in the 19th over.

Opener Haynes batted through for 19 not out after being clean bowled off a Hardwick no-ball second delivery up!

A half-century from Pete Birtles helped Wellesbourne reach 121 at Exhall, where Leon Gates and Simon Hollands proved almost unplayable.

The former took 4-14 from ten overs and a similar stint from Hollands brought figures of 0-13 with the pair sharing nine maidens.

Neil Weston was quickly among the wickets after tea but an unbeaten half-century from Hollands steered Exhall to victory.

Bidford, champions in 2001, made it two wins out of four with a 38-run victory over Twyning, while Tanworth's surprisingly easy win at Stratford Bards was a huge shock to the home side's title hopes.

Alcester and Ragley are eager to reclaim their top flight status and a narrow defeat of Winchcombe leaves them 14 points clear at the top of the first division.

Gary Strain's 58 and an eighth wicket stand of 69 between Lee and Greenway helped the Ragley Parkers past 191.

Winchcombe made a brave fight after tea when Huggett's 42 and a half-century from Lea-Nicholls proved insufficient as the hosts won by nine runs.

Closest rivals Ashton had Tom Archer (6-12) to thank for skittling Nathan Lindsey for 99 before a run rate success lifted the winners into second place.

It was almost as easy for Moreton in Marsh for whom Young also grabbed a half-a-dozen cheap wickets as Elmley Castle tumbled to 64 all out and an eight-wicket reverse.

Wellesbourne lead Division Two by a healthy 18 points after a run rate win over Chipping Campden.

Badsey brothers Jamie and Emerson Paul took six wickets between them as Claverdon scored 151-9 - a total that proved 18 runs beyond the Ballards Park side for whom Dave Powell hit 43.

Twenty wickets fell for just 125 runs on a damp FISSC wicket as the Division Three leaders were shot out for a paltry 33.

McNally (4-6) and Campden (3-3) were Harvington's heroes as the hosts lost their last five wickets for two runs after losing half their side for 31!

Earlier, Harvington had also struggled and stood at 15-5 before Taylor's unbeaten 43 repelled the bowling wizardry of Patton (3-8) and McLaren (3-24).

Great Alne top Division Four after a six-wicket win at Eckington but the sections best game came at Alcester where Kenilworth won a tense affair by six runs.

Chasing 193 for victory, the hosts had Lister (39) and Clark to thank for a fourth wicket stand of 89 but the running out of the latter for 70 was the key moment as Wardens moved up to third.

An unbeaten 105 from Wheatley and Sheppy's 59 not out hurried Elmley Castle to a ten-wicket win over Moreton in Marsh in the Division Five top clash.

Earlier Haynes struck 86 for the Batsford Road side who were overtaken at the top by Long Itchington, two-wicket victors at Mickleton.

Unbeaten Cookhill made it three wins out of four in the new surroundings of Division Six which they lead by 18 points from Evesham.

Claverdon were the leaders latest victims while Evesham surrendered their unbeaten start in a 35-run scoring rate reverse at Ashorne.