AUSTRALIAN Daniel Craig had Harvington stumped in more ways than one last Saturday!

Great Alne's overseas import smashed the home bowlers to all parts of the ground before donning the wicket keeping gloves and removing the bails on three occasions as Harvington slumped to a 260-run Division Five reverse.

It was the Henley Road side's seventh straight league win and they remain firmly in title contention especially after Bearley got the better of fellow promotion chasers Mickleton by 48 runs.

Craig, who has made a huge impression at Great Alne, especially with a thriving junior section, was finally out for 149 as the visitors amassed a daunting 304-5.

The Aussie received fabulous support from Neil Margesson who made 88 before Tom Jones (3-11) and James Armstrong (4-4) took charge with the ball to skittle Harvington for a paltry 44.

While there was a certain inevitability about the conclusion at Harvington, several matches remained in the balance right until the final ball.

The tightest finish came at Ballards Park where Camp-den required five off the last over to reach a Badsey target of 175.

Four balls later it was two from two when Wayne Pearse snapped up danger man Grey (38) on the long on boundary. The final ball went through to wicket keeper Moss who threw it to Dave Powell at the bowler's end to execute a vital run out and earn the home side victory by the narrowest of margins.

Just two runs separated winners Claverdon and Cather-ine-de-Barnes after their second division clash, while the top flight produced a couple of frantic finishes as Kineton and Shipston both maintained their title challenges.

The former benefited from a dropped catch at home to Bretforton, who had been dismissed for 94 with Brian Weston taking 4-20.

The basement side hit back but a chance went begging at 80-8 and the relieved leaders picked up a seventh win in eight matches.

Shipston made it six from eight despite staring defeat in the face at struggling champions Bidford. The hosts threw away the chance of only a second success of the summer when requiring 54 off 13 overs with seven wickets in hand.

Dave Pyne snapped up 3-22 while Gary Betteridge's three catches were also crucial in a thrilling seven-run Shipston triumph.

The top four in the top flight face one another this weekend with Kineton's title aspirations facing a stiff test at London Road.

Second-placed Stratford Bards entertain fourth in the table Exhall and Wixford.

Alcester and Ragley pocketed 20 easy first division points when Stratford were unable to raise a side and the Ragley Hall club's second team also had a rather comfortable Saturday afternoon at Henley.

A hard hitting half-century from Andy Haines was the star turn in an Alcester total of 241-4 and the all-rounder then took 3-17 off ten overs as the hosts were restricted to 146-7.

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