AVONCROFT Cricket Club First XI fell 14 runs short of victory as they held Old Vigornians to a losing draw in Worcestershire County League division four at their Stoke Heath ground.

Old Vigornians got off to a flying, if slightly lucky, start last Saturday. After being put into bat, the visitors scored freely in the first 15 overs.

Sixteen-year-old Jimmy Deakin celebrated his debut for the First XI by taking the prize wicket of Dave Mendham, who fell first for 52.

The wicket seemed to put the brakes on Old Vigornians' charge with Croft's bowlers relishing the challenge against an impressive array of batting talent.

Wayne Pugh bowled particularly well and was unlucky not to finish with better figures than 1-38 off ten overs.

Croft's fielding was also far better than last week's nine-run defeat at Amblecote and Wollaston. A diving stop and throw from Jon Bird contributed to the first of four run outs, removing Cole for 82. Good bowling at the death from Dave James (2-59) and Rich Sinclair (1-14) kept the visitors down to a very respectable 246-9 from 50 overs.

Croft's openers again got them off to a good start in reply with Chris Townsend and John Goode surviving an early barrage from Phillips before exerting a degree of control over the visiting bowling.

Townsend was the first to fall for 36 after another half-century opening stand, but Goode continued to dominate. With the required run rate beginning to climb, the hosts were forced to pick the pace up, and as a result wickets began to fall. Heavy rain showers throughout Paul Athey's side's innings significantly slowed up the outfield and seven runs an over from the last 20 was beginning to look a tall order.

The wicket of Goode for 79 really turned the game in Old Vigornians' favour, and despite contributions from Mark Whitehead (23) and Pugh (24), the run-rate continued to climb.

A valiant 32 not out from vice-captain Sinclair almost gave the game a dramatic finale, but in the end both sides finished just short of what they needed to force a victory.

Avoncroft Seconds won by five wickets at Old Vigornians Seconds.

Tight bowling by Croft's Adam Rodway (1-11) and Guy Weston (4-4) skittled the hosts out for 109.

Croft reached the total for the loss of five wickets. A solid innings of 49 not out by Mark Taylor, on his debut, was the pick of Avoncroft's batsmen.