AVONCROFT First XI remain without a win following their narrow three wicket defeat away to Old Halesonians in Worcestershire County League Division Four.

Croft scored a creditable 132 all out on what was an unusually bouncy wicket, while the slow outfield singularly failed to help the batting side.

The loss of early wickets meant David James (36) and Rod Braithwaite were forced to defend from a position of 26 for four.

Batting with sense, the pair stabilised the innings before both succumbed to wide deliveries to set the innings back once again.

Fine tail-end batting by Nigel Jukes with 25 --including one exquisite cover drive plus a towering six -- and Zapher Iqbal (21) managed to hoist Croft to a respectable total, representing a major challenge to Old Halesonians.

The home side's cause was not helped by the early loss of two wickets, one to a splendid run-out by Craig Southwick.

However, from a somewhat precarious position, the remainder of the game was dominated by a belligerent 70 from James Blood.

In what was only his second game for the club he punished anything loose before being dismissed just short of the finishing line.

The match ended in Laurel and Hardy fashion when, with three runs still required, Old Halesonians crept home following two misfields and two wayward throws that yielded the winning runs.