A WONDERFUL century by skipper Simon Smith capped Bewdley's first Worcestershire League Division One win of the season.

The Wyre Forest side moved off the bottom of the table after a thrilling finish at Lye.

Smith dominated the innings with 137 runs as Bewdley totalled 227-8 in reply to a testing 226-9 from Lye.

The Black Country side batted first and were soon reduced to 35-4 by the visitors.

But a swift fifth wicket partnership added 104 and solid contributions lower down the order enabled Lye to post a challenging total.

Mark Edwards (4-79) bowled well in two spells and was well supported by Mark Bennett.

Chasing 227, Bewdley had Paul Edwards run out off the first ball of the innings but Smith then assumed complete control.

When he was finally out with only nine runs needed, he had scored 137 out of 218.

No bowler could come to terms with his astonishing strokeplay as he scored at will all round the wicket with 21 fours and a six.

Every other batsman was overshadowed but most stayed with Smith in a series of useful partnerships.

Mark Venross made an attractive 23 not out off 21 balls at the end and Bewdley eased home by two wickets with 5 balls to spare.

Lye 226-9, Bewdley 227-8.

Bewdley seconds played out a rather sterile draw with their Lye counterparts.

Lye batted first and though no batsman reached 50, their total of 242-7 was always going to be difficult for Bewdley with a number of key batsmen absent.

After Scott Fowler had opened with hostile but unrewarded seam bowling, John Goodreds kept the lid on the Lye innings with a tidy spell.

Goodreds took three good wickets, two of them through catches by Ewan Peer, the first an astonishing effort from a swirling high shot.

But another catch was dropped when the fielder was distracted by none other than an over-flying World War Two Spitfire.

The early loss of David Jones and Peter Mauger made Bewdley's task hard and then Steve Brown followed, caught at leg slip by the third marvellous catch of the afternoon.

David Mills batted fluently but the rest of the innings was a triumph for 15-year-old Robert Combes who timed the ball beautifully for his first league half-century.

It came only six days after his first half-century of any sort in senior cricket.

However, Bewdley finished well short in a rather unsatisfactory game.

Lye 242-7, Bewdley 162-5.

Missing stalwarts Tim Marshall and Andrew Stannard, Bewdley Cavaliers slumped to defeat at Old Elizabethans.

Bewdley batted consistently and again posted a good total of 192-4.

The innings was illuminated by an attractive contribution from Derek Moses who was out in the last over falling just short of a well-deserved century on 93.

Moses was well supported by Peter Harler and Chris Allen.

Old Elizabethans made short work of their task despite good bowling from Dave Cowdery and Aidan Laverty.

Bewdley Cavaliers 192-4, Old Elizabethans Thirds 193-3.